Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special #1 is published by BOOM! Studios. The book features five brand-new stories penned by Ryan Parrott and features Mat Groom, the original Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson, and young adult author Maria Ingrande Mora, Mairghread Scott and Melissa Flores.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special #1 is available now, in print and on digital where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Between a spotlight on Ernie in Angel Grove, Alpha 5’s struggle to find his true purpose, a mind-bending “What If?” story about Tommy’s powers which introduces an all-new alternate universe, an additional tale about his marriage to Kat, and a deeper look at the Ranger Academy, this anniversary issue is truly packed full of content worthy of the 30-year legacy. Along with 40 pages of brand new morphinominal material, celebrate 30 years of Power Rangers with an additional 24 pages of classic material that fans new and old will be delighted to experience!
Review
It’s hard to believe that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Power Rangers franchise. What was once a show purely for kids is now a pop culture juggernaut which only continues to grow in popularity. Part of that growth from Saturday morning TV to geek royalty is undoubtedly down to the amazing work of the BOOM! Studios team in re-contextualising the series for its most successful comic book run. Today, BOOM! throws its own celebratory party with the release of this 30th anniversary special issue.
The book features five new stories from some very familiar names to comic book and Power Rangers fans. There’s also some fun legacy material in there just to remind us of one of our favourite moments from any episode of the TV series.
Each of the five stories takes a slightly different look at the original Mighty Morphin team and their impact on the world. Whether it be through the eyes of the people of Angel Grove, the team’s ever supporting robot Alpha-5, or even through the eyes of each other, the book never loses focus on celebrating the Rangers.
The book kicks off with “Ode to Ernie” written by Ryan Parrott – a legend in his own right with fans – with artwork by Eleonora Carlini. At first it might seem like a low-key way to kick off. But what better way to show the impact of the Rangers than on one of the original series’ highly celebrated supporting characters. Ernie was always there for the Rangers, the Angel Grove Juice Bar providing a sanctuary away from Rita or even the everyday troubles of teenage life. Dedicated to Richard Michael Genelle who sadly passed away in 2008, “Ode to Ernie” finds him questioning his place in Angel Grove when an interaction with the Rangers reminds him of his purpose. It’s a touching tribute to both character and actor, reminding us that the series always had a moral message underpinning the high stakes action.
Up next, current Power Rangers writer Melissa Flores and artist Hendry Prasetya take a look at the relationship between Tommy and Kat, the second Pink Ranger. The two have become the stuff of Power Rangers legend, their relationship being explored both on screen and in comics. In 2018 the late Jason David Frank teamed with writer Kyle Higgins on a story which centred on Tommy, Kat and their son J.J. Here, Flores takes a step back in time to look at a period of time between their final on-screen appearance together as teenagers and when they married. It’s a touching story which strikes to the heart of both characters humanity and dedication to the mission.
Next, writer Mat Groom, illustrator Marco Renna and colourist Sara Antonellini bring us a really sweet story about Alpha-5. The robot sidekick was ever present across many seasons of the TV series but is rarely the star of his own story. Groom rectifies this with another pitch-perfect story that reflects the strength of character that underpins this entire celebration.
The next two stories, Amy Jo Johnson & Matt Hotson’s Re-Imagine and Maria Ingrande Mora’s Ranger Academy: Office Hours tease upcoming titles in the Power Rangers line. Johnson, the original Pink Ranger, is taking on a new story featuring the classic team which is the highpoint in this collection. Who better to breathe new life in to Kimberly’s story than the actor who embodied her for 138 episodes and two movies. After a brief recap it appears that Johnson and Hobson are taking us to an alternate universe where original characters Jason, Zack and Trini never left the Rangers to attend the Teen Peace Conference in Switzerland. Fans will recall their reason for leaving was an excuse for failed pay negotiations amongst the cast. Here, the trio remain with the Rangers in a universe where Kimberly and Tommy eventually marry and everyone grows up together. The plot divergences continue, no spoilers here, and lead in to a tantalising conclusion for the upcoming series.
Ranger Academy is a brand new series which kicks off in October 2023. Its premise has been teased not just in this celebratory issue but also in the Free Comic Book Day sample which was released back in May. It’s one of the shorter stories in the book and puts the spotlight on Billy, a character who has had perhaps the most satisfying character redefinition in the comics. He feels much more three-dimensional than his TV counterpart and it’s nice that BOOM! saw fit to celebrate that with this story.
The final sections dedicate themselves to two classic moments from the series: a large-scale Zord battle and the legendary morphing sequence. The former is the final new material in the anniversary special whilst the latter is a collection of splash-page morphing moments from across the 111-issues publisher-so far by BOOM!.
Verdict
A true celebration of the franchise. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special #1 is a brilliant collection of stories which strike deep to the heart of what has made the franchise so endearing and long lasting.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
