Comic Book Review - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104

Rob reviews Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104...

In need of some much-needed TLC, long-time adversary, Rita Repulsa has had a renaissance under Misty Flores' care. She's gone from being banished by Lord Zedd, to returning in a blaze of glory as the resurgent Mistress Vile. But how did this change come to be? And what ramifications does it have for the Power Rangers and Earth? 

Much like Lord Zedd, Rita's history is just as mysterious. While Kyle Higgins and Ryan Parrott each brought much-needed backstory to Rita, it's now Flores' turn to add another chapter. With revelations - and more than a few shocking moments - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104 is one you won't want to miss. 

MMPR #104 is entirely devoted to Rita as we see her gradual transformation into Mistress Vile. We kick things off with Mistress Vile trying again to break Matt's resolve. She tells him that his sacrifice was in vain and that he means nothing to his so-called friends. To hammer the point home, she then recounts her past to the Green Ranger. 

Mistress Vile then takes Matt on a journey into her past as she details her upbringing, encountering her minions, her battles with the Rangers, and her banishment from Lord Zedd. It's all told across a gorgeous double-page spread that seems to branch out from the trapped Rita in the middle. This exile is then interrupted as another familiar face comes to Rita's rescue. Fans of Power Rangers Turbo are in for a treat as Divatox makes an appearance as the person who saves Rita. It's not all roses as Divatox is on a mission from Master Vile to find Rita and return her to Gamma Vile.

As family reunions go, to say things between Rita and Master Vile are frosty is a massive understatement. While Master Vile is all for celebrating his daughter's return, Rita is less than pleased. As Master Vile attempts to reconnect with Rita, he mentions that he's found another potential vessel for the illusive Dark Spectre. Rita reminds her father of his failed attempts - with one involving her brother. This time around Vile has an ace up his sleeve and reintroduces both the reader and Rita to Alpha-1. 

The penultimate chapter of this issue then deals with Rita Repulsa's transformation into Mistress Vile. I won't go into too much detail, but it involves plenty of backstabbing and one heck of a power play! 

Straight from her first issue, Flores has shown that her Power Rangers knowledge is incredibly vast. There are plenty of callbacks and cameos as we learn the reason behind Rita's transformation. Having Divatox back on the scene was a nice surprise, and helps to build the wider universe. Could we see the Turbo antagonist tackle the Omega Rangers? Either way, the worldbuilding in the Recharged Era has been epic in scope. 

Kath Lobo and Simona di Gianfelice also bring plenty of scope to proceedings with a fantastic showing of art. Moving the action away from Earth allows for some alien landscapes, and their eclectic inhabitants to shine. Master Vile is well presented and leaps straight from the television series. Both artists capture his outlandish appearance and eccentric behavior so well that I could picture actor Simon Prescott's voice.

That double-page spread is a real thing of beauty too! 

Likewise, Fabi Marques and Raúl Angulo's use of colors jump straight from the page. There's a nice shift in tones across the issue as we jump from the cold of space (and Divatox's ship) to the darkness of Master Vile's Castle, to then end within the fires of the planet Infernus. Along with the aforementioned art, it all comes together to build the atmosphere without shying away from the dark tones underneath. 

And who could forget about Ed Dukeshire, whose lettering ties everything together?

All in all, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104 continues the trend of beating its predecessor as being Misty Flores's best yet. Its always been known that Rita Repulsa has an explosive history, and through the pages of this issue, we get another chapter in her story. While Flores slightly touches upon Mistress Vile's plans for Matt, it seems that it's not just the Rangers that she has in her sights! 

Rating 10/10 

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