Things take a surprising turn as MMPR: The Return continues…
Since BOOM! Studios announced the premise to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, questions has been asked as to what happens to the Power Rangers for them to go their separate ways. The answer to this question has to be a monumental one for Kimberly to sever all ties with her friends, and for Jason to go rogue. While Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson briefly touched upon this event during their opening act, it’s here in the second issue that we explore that fateful event on the Moon.
The main bulk of this second outing is acted through flashbacks that catches the reader up on past events. Told via Kimberly’s viewpoint in the present as she speaks to Trini’s daughter we see the climatic battle between the Rangers, Rita, and Lord Zedd. With the big bad’s celebrating over a monumental victory over the Rangers, their party is soon crashed by a vengeful Rangers team looking for payback. As Zack, Jason, Trini, and Billy act as a diversion in the Megazord, Tommy and Kimberly head into the Bandora Palace with a bomb. With the steaks as high as they could ever be, it’s here where we see that loss that Kimberly suffers.
While there’s a lot of incredible action sequences in this issue, Johnson and Hotson pack it full of emotion as we see events take their toll on Kimberly. With the opening act already showing us that Tommy Oliver is no longer of this world, we were bound to see his death played out. In true fashion it’s a gut wrenching moment that no only sees Kimberly loose her husband, it makes the ending twist that ever more painful. Of course Johnson has an affinity with her onscreen counterpart, and to see her explore this side of her alter ego is superb. The raw smothering emotions of loss and grief is something that couldn’t be portrayed within the live action MMPR series, and seeing it play out here is utterly heartbreaking.
Of course no matter how good the writing is it’s accompanied art work has to also be of a quality to sell the idea. With MMPR: The Return this comes in the form of Nico Leon who nails the emotional impact of each scene. There’s plenty of standout moments within this issue and it’s been incredibly difficult to pick out that one moment that made me go “wow”. Avoiding spoilers, there’s a fantastic double-page spread that gives plenty of atmosphere to that climatic battle on the Moon. With the Rangers and their Zords one side, and a whole army of Putty squad on the other. It’s monumental in scope, and just shows how much of an expendable army Rita and Zedd had at their disposal. Leon and colourist Dono Sanchez-Almara, then complement this bombastic action with plenty of quieter moments that makes the core of this issue incredibly touching. Don’t get me wrong , the whole art work is decadently Power Rangers, but in between the explosions and stellar performances we have that human emotion bleeding through.
Special mention also goes out to Johnson and Hotson who answer the question on whether the Rangers are indestructible during their morphing phase. Its inclusion did get a chuckle out of me. Ed Dukeshire’s font is the icing on the cake to a scene that no one saw coming.
Overall, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2 continues the groundbreaking work that started to take shape in issue #1. Amy Jo Johnson, and Matt Hotson are crafting a story of loss that stretches far beyond what we’ve seen before. With the final days of the Power Rangers now laid out in front of us, what comes next is set to be as equally compelling.
Rating: 10/10
Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow us on X/Facebook @GeekCultureRev, TikTok/YouTube @Geekculturereviews, and BlueSky @geekculturereviews.bsky.social
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