Comic Book Review - Power Rangers #6

Rob reviews Power Rangers #6...

Last time out the Omega Rangers had gotten into a spot of bother. After being cheated out of the engine part to repair their ship, Zac and Jason encountered the mysterious Astronema. That's not all as the three then found themselves at the mercy of the S.P.D. 

Meanwhile, Xi, Trini, and Drakkon come face to face with Astronema's mentor - Ecliptor. 

Continuing from the Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir of Darkness one-shot, we learn a little more about Astronema's history and her relationship with Ecliptor. Turns out that a young Astronema was saved by a General of the Dark Specter after her home was destroyed by...Power Rangers!?

And that's where issue 6 of Power Rangers heads. Ryan Parrott gives us a good old fashioned Western jailbreak. With a side-order of morality and the often blurred lines of what's right and wrong. 

Power Rangers #6 very much focuses on Drakkon, Trini, and Xi as the trio team up with Ecliptor. The plan is to rescue Jason, Zac, and Astronema from an S.P.D. transport, before they're shipped off-world. It's an interesting position that Trini finds herself in. After all the Omega Rangers are fugitives due to Zordon's bounty. But in letting justice serve its cause, the galaxy comes under increasing threat from the Empyreal. Naturally, it's over to Drakkon who sums up the situation with a killer line "follow the rules or save the universe". 

This then leads to a less-than-perfect heist as the Drakkon, Trini, Ecliptor team assault the S.P.D. train. The whole assault is a great Spaghetti Western homage. From Xi's escape craft getting shot down (the rival train), to the S.P.D. agent standing his ground, and getting comically knocked out. It's all a great "enemy of my enemy" heist tale, with that Power Rangers darkness hiding underneath the surface. 

In terms of writing, Ryan Parrott smashes it out of the park yet again. We get more character building for Lord Drakkon as Parrott shows us exactly what happens if you double-cross his Lordship's friends, and if anything Drakkon does the right thing...for once. Astronema and Jason also have a great talking heads moment as the two trade insults inside their containment cell. It was a nice touch to see the two enemies eventually find a common ground. Especially as Jason and Astronema stand for totally different values. This is then mirrored between Jason and Trini at the end of the issue. 

As I mentioned above, this issue does blur that line that the Omega Rangers are subtly starting to cross. It's been a gradual decline that started way back in issue 1. It was great to see Trini struggle with the decision of having to resort to violence, while Astronema and Ecliptor both relish it. 

Since the opening issue, Power Rangers has had this dark undertone running through it. As this darkness starts to come to the surface, I'm very intrigued to see where it all goes. Is Drakkon turning a new leaf, or is he sharpening that dagger? What is the Empyreal threat? Who's the bad guy teased at the end? What about Astronema and Ecliptor? 

So many questions...and it's fantastic! 

Rating 10/10

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev