Ranger Academy #2 is published by BOOM! Studios, written by Maria Ingrande Mora, illustrated by Jo Mi-Gyeong, coloured by Fabiana Mascolo and lettered by Ed Dukeshire.
Issue #2 is available 1st November 2023 either directly from BOOM! Studios online or from your local comic book store, digital copies will be available to download from the usual content providers.
Synopsis
Freshman year starts for Sage on her first day at Ranger Academy! But it’s hard for a girl so used to isolation to make friends amongst the Red, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Pink campuses, even with her new yearmate Lindy.
But given that this is no ordinary academy, Sage will have her fair share of secrets to uncover…and what connection does her paranoid father have to the mysteries of the school?
Review
We are back again at Ranger Academy as Sage begins her first day the nerves are beginning to kick in, the pressures of normal school life are taking their toll already except this is no ordinary school. Luckily for Sage she had Mathis and Tula to give her a helping hand at fitting in with all the others at Ranger school, although some of her origins need to be kept under wraps as they decide to come up with a slightly different background for her involving a fictional Auntie.
As the book progresses we see Sage struggling to get through the working day and that dreaded doubt begins to set in if she is actually really made to be a Ranger, but deep down inside I think Sage knows she has that special something she just needs to find it. Sage is haunted by dreams of her father that keep waking her in a start leaving her embarrassed as she shouts for her father, she doesn’t want the rest of the students to know she’s homesick she just wants to get on, but it’s an ongoing struggle.
Sage is advised to take a look at the stunning library to gain some knowledge, the library is a stunning place full of knowledge that will surely help Sage, she meets a man named Nika, the Head Archivist at the school, he promises to get Sage started on her knowledge journey but there is a connection that is close to Sage, a connection that could change everything.
I’m quite enjoying the slower shift in pace of this Ranger arc, it’s not as fast paced as the usual Power Rangers stories, Ranger Academy is a bit of a slower pace that is building the stories of new characters and maybe opening up a whole new world for Rangers fans. Writer Maria Ingrande Mora is doing a great job at building the character of Sage with a good solid background that is allowing the character to naturally evolve. I like how Sage is depicted as a normal teenager albeit going to a Ranger school, this makes the story feel that little bit more real.
The style of art from Jo Mi-Gyeong gives the book a fun feel to it, going more for light tones and bold colours that give a family friendly feel to the book, the library section of the book looks stunning.
Verdict
Ranger Academy is building its way up becoming strong series, the character of Sage is beginning to evolve and I am looking forward to see the progression. An interesting shift in pace that Ranger fans will enjoy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
