REVIEW: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #51

Ryan Parrott“s astounding run on Power Rangers is one of the consistently great pleasures in comics. He continues to lift the genre with effective characterization and expanding the Power Ranger universe in a way that still feels organic to the original series. The issue begins with the return of the alternate, older, evil-mastermind version of Tommy, Drakkon. Drakkon is clearly mentally fraying, and in a great action sequence is quickly taken down and captured by the Rangers. The action is punctuated by solid humor and it“s clear that the newer Rangers, Adam, Rocky and Aisha, are adding something new to the comic as well as the team. The dramatic changes Parrott has made as to the reasons Jason, Trini and Zack left make the newbies easier to love.

Meanwhile the villains get a major boost this issue with the return of Lord Zedd. Zedd has his team dispatch the Psychoslug. While this seems like a normal villain of the week, it is eventually revealed that Psychoslug“s true use was absorbing Ranger energy into the Green Chaos Crystal. He then uses the crystal to raise Goldar and the other villains into Dark Rangers. The issue ends with the promise of the potential Dark Ranger leader, Rita Repulsa.

The issue is punctuated by some great moments, including a fascinating conversation between Billy and Drakkon warning of a great threat on the horizon. The additional high school scenes are a needed staple of the story, but they are much weaker than the character moments in the Command Center and during battles.
The action art by Moises Hidalgo is extremely well done. The Rangers in action are fantastic throughout the issues and might be the best version of the Power Rangers in comic form we have ad. The unmasked scenes are a bit less consist, Rocky and Adam in particular look nothing like themselves.

This issue is entitled Aftermath, but it nicely acts as a prelude to major changes directing the story forward with new villains, dynamics and powers on the horizon. Between the Dark Rangers and the threat Drakkon warns of, the Power Rangers should continue to be in top form for many issues to come.

Writing: 4.8 of 5 stars
Art: 4.5 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.3 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.5 of 5 stars

Writer: Ryan Parrott
Art: Moises Hidalgo
Colors: Walter Baiamonte and Katia Ranalli
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.