Comic Book Review: Power Rangers #5

Rob Lake reviews Power Rangers #5...

It's Morphin Time at dawn as the Omega Rangers head to the Western-esq world of Onyx and come face to face with a figure from Power Rangers past. 

For Power Rangers #5, Ryan Parrott gives us an almost Spaghetti Western affair, with a high-stakes gamble, Interstellar bar fights and plenty of twists and turns. I say this every month, but Power Rangers #5 is arguably the jewel in the crown (so far).

As seen at the closing of Power Rangers #4, the Planet Onyx is a lawless dust bowl full of a delightful assortment of characters. Parrott establishes within the first page that "this place doesn't care much for Rangers" and it's a theme that runs throughout. Jason and Zack end up in a card match with a round nice-guy - Fendrick Prot. It's not long before the two Rangers are double-crossed and that's where the fun starts. 

With Power Rangers #5 leading into the Heir of Darkness storyline (check out our preview) it isn't long before we're reintroduced to Astronema. Astronema knows that Zack and Jason are Rangers and this then sets the whole bar into a frenzy. Francesco Mortarino gives us some fantastic cell breaking action scenes as the Rangers take on both Astronema and the bar's patrons. There are some great shots of Astronema taking it to both Jason, Zack, and everyone else, which Raúl Angulo fills with great use of green flashes, and an incredibly vibrant morphing scene. The twists don't end there either as the past soon catches up to the two Rangers with the intervention of the S.P.D. 

The side story in this issue features Trini, Drakkon and XI as they await the outcome of Zack and Jason's trip to town. We get yet another great talking heads between Drakkon and Trini as the former compares himself to the Tommy Oliver that we all know. This then leads up to the appearance of the other Heir of Darkness character - Ecliptor.

Power Rangers #5 continues to build on the success of the previous issues. The inclusion of both Ecliptor and Astronema not only sets up the upcoming, Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir of Darkness, but also gives us yet more intrigue into what comes next. Ryan Parrott is on fire with both Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers and long may it continue. 

Rating 10/10

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