Power Rangers Prime #2 is written by Melissa Flores and published by BOOM! Studios. Illustration is by Michael Yg, colours by Fabi Marques and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Main cover art (left) is by Dan Mora.
Power Rangers Prime #2 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology right here.
Synopsis
The new morphinominal era continues in the second action-packed issue of Power Rangers Prime!
Conflicts emerge around a fugitive Ranger, drawing in another iconic team and setting up a world-colliding crossover that fans have been theorizing about for years! Meanwhile, a fan favorite villain has uncovered the remnants of a Samuraizer… and the latent Morphin energy could unleash a power unlike anything this universe has ever seen…
Review
BOOM! Studios’ brand new vision for the Power Rangers franchise returns to comic book stores today for its second issue. After setting up a decent mystery and suitably twisting franchise lore, Melissa Flores’ new interpretation of the Rangers rapidly expands its cast this month, ramping up the action and finding a rhythm which will no doubt satisfy long-time fans.
The first issue of Power Rangers Prime proved that Flores has original ideas for how to present the decades old formula. Across four decades the Power Rangers franchise has taken groups of disparate teens and turned them in to superheroes. That formula felt a million miles away from Power Rangers Prime last month. But with issue #2 there’s a little more of that classic Ranger-magic bubbling under the surface. The echoes of the old are neatly baked in to what Flores is cooking here. It never overpowers but does neatly add a little more connection for those who may be craving it.
Those touches of classic Power Rangers flare come from Flores building out the core cast of Prime. This expansion of the Prime world comes from a couple of different sources. Picking up where issue #1 left off, Rita Repulsa has landed on Earth and finds herself facing off against Angel Grove’s local Eltarian forces. That includes a bigger role for a certain Farkas Bulkmeier, working in a government role for the sake of the benefits. He finds himself an unexpected role in Rita’s arrival on Earth which should keep him in regular guest role for a little while. Seeing classic characters like Rita, Bulk and even Lauren still offers a little spike of adrenaline for old fans like myself. But Flores’ fledgling cast of original characters is quickly proving to be equally as exciting.
Last issue the focus was heavily on Mark and Jun. Through them we see hints of political and societal issues which cut through the mixed human-Eltarian culture. There’s flashes of divide which hint towards potential issues of racism which could be interesting to explore. Particularly given the Power Rangers history for uniting across cultural barriers. But issue #2 is also expanding on the supporting players. There’s more Orion, scratching beneath the surface it feels like his character is going to nicely subvert expectations of the archetypal jock. Admittedly I had forgotten this was a character seen on screen in Power Rangers: Super Megaforce so there is already established lore for his character. Then there’s Valentina… whilst her outfit might foreshadow a future as the Yellow Ranger, her actions in Power Rangers Prime #2 certainly set up some potentially major conflict amongst the group moving forwards.
Overall the pacing of Power Rangers Prime, particularly the lack of urgency in suiting up any heroes, makes this feel like a movie script adapted for the page. In another universe I can see this book being an incredible way to bring the Rangers back to the big screen with a contemporary story which does away with the campness of the 1990’s series (nothing wrong it but it is of its time), replacing it with something a modern audience would find more appetising.
Michael Yg and Fabi Marques continue to do a great job of visualising Flores’ story. There’s so much life and energy on the page that it’s not difficult for the story to come to life in your mind. I often find myself darting around the page looking for finer details and exploring what’s happening in the background of panels. There’s a level of construction to the imagery which leads me to think nothing is put on the page by accident and I wonder what easter eggs I might have missed to pick up on without going back for a second, third or fourth read.
Verdict
Power Rangers Prime #2 is shaping up to be a blockbuster new entry in the franchise. Flores is slowly but surely building a compelling cast of characters in a world which is alien yet still has echoes of all the hallmarks which has built millions of fans across the last 30 years.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
