Power Rangers Prime #8 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 #8 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
Rangers divided, Rangers united! The VR Troopers strike a deal — they’ll let Mark, Ranger Prime Blue, go… in exchange for Lauren, Ranger Prime Red! Will the other Rangers be willing to make the trade? Or will they stand up to the Troopers? And who is the mysterious figure coming to throw off the balance?
Review
BOOM! Studios’ incredible Power Rangers Prime is back in comic book stores today with its eight issue. The series reaches another major milestone as the team is reunited for an action sequence which may be its best to-date. With partner series VR Troopers now in stores the stage is set for both teams to come in to conflict over their opposing viewpoints.
The series continues to wow me every single month. Melissa Flores has worked tirelessly to bring a very real group of characters to life and it shows. At this stage there’s no character within the pages of Power Rangers Prime who doesn’t feel like they could belong in a live-action series in this franchise. It’s not just their personalities which are well defined. At this stage there are so many complex and nuanced relationships between various characters that Flores has endless storytelling potential for the future.
There’s a few conflicts bubbling away in the background in Power Rangers Prime #8. But it’s Valentina, our new Yellow Ranger, and her boyfriend Ryan, a VR Trooper, who is really at the core of the story. We’ve seen them move from being on the same page regarding Rangers and Eltarians to sitting at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Flores has cleverly built in some real-world power struggles to the relationship and wrapped it all neatly in the world of Power Rangers.
Whilst there are plenty of other inciting incidents going on. The focus which Flores puts on these two characters really grounds the issue in human emotion over the simple monster mechanics of the franchise. That’s why Power Rangers Prime works so well. Whilst it’s clear that Flores understands all of the traditional tropes of the franchise. Prime is squarely based on these characters and their humanity. A lot of that conflict is verbal. Lauren and Orion certainly find themselves with some tough words for Rita. Her selfishness is really beginning to reflect a more traditional version of the character. But it’s when the Rangers come face-to-face with the Troopers that things spill over.
Of course in the hands of Michael Yg everything taking place in this issue looks incredible. Yg isn’t given enough credit for being able to handle the character moments with as much gusto as the action set pieces. This issue has both in abundance and there isn’t a weak moment between them. The awkwardness and angst between Valentina and Ryan oozes off the page. The minute detail in the facial expressions works wonderfully to bring Flores’ story to life.
But then in the second half of the book comes the fist pumping moment the Rangers morph and enter the battle. Switching tactics Yg steps away from the facial expressions, now all hidden under helmets. All of that raw emotion is replaced with fluid movements and fight choreography which lands equally as well on the page. It’s easily one of the most exciting moments in Power Rangers Prime to-date. Showing the full team working together for the first time. This is the moment book feels at its closest to the energy of the TV series and it’s beyond exciting to watch unfold.
Power Rangers Prime #8 ends with a rather profound cliffhanger. A moment I had been anticipating for a little while but which still took me by surprise. It’s fair to say this moment is as seismic as the reveal that the VR Troopers were also part of this world. I can’t wait to see where Flores takes us next.
Verdict
Power Rangers Prime #8 is a blistering issue which is overflowing with raw human emotion. When that emotion explodes in to a showdown with the VR Troopers it’s finally time for this new group of Rangers to come together and fight like a team.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
