VR Troopers #2 is written by Mairghread Scott and published by BOOM! Studios. Illustration is by Sebastián Píriz, colours by JP Jordan and letters by Taylor Esposito. Main cover art (left) is by Tauren Clarke.
VR Troopers #2 is available in comic book stores from today.
Synopsis
We are VR! The VR Troopers continue their triumphant return to comics after 30 years! After the dramatic revelations of the first issue, Kaitlin puts her journalistic skills to the test to investigate Ziktor Industries. But is she in over her head on her solo mission? Meanwhile, JB and Ryan try to solve the mysteries of their new enemies!
Review
BOOM! Studios’ six-issue VR Troopers returns to comic book stores today with its second issue. As the series strives to separate itself from Power Rangers Prime writer Mairghread Scott continues to mine franchise lore whilst deepening our understanding of who these characters are.
What was immediately striking about the first issue of VR Troopers was how it was able to take the foundations laid by Melissa Flores in the Power Rangers series and run with it. We had seen Ryan, JB and Kaitlin as antagonists to the Rangers. But fans of the 90’s series would immediately understand there’s far more to the Troopers than meets the eye. But rather than overwhelm the reader, Scott has instead chosen in incrementally move beyond those early appearances. In doing so it made Ryan the de-facto lead of the first issue. But this second chooses to put the focus on Kaitlin, furthering her character development in the process.
Picking up the morning after the events of issue #1 Scott drops in to a brilliant moment which characterises the dynamic between the three leads. Ryan clearly wants to investigate the previous night’s mysterious figure. Particularly given the potential connection to his father’s disappearance. The setup is so simple: Ryan brings breakfast – and a plan – to his fellow Troopers and they discuss the best course of action. But so much character and narrative drive is baked in to its DNA that there’s more to pick up on with each read. There’s personal politics, corporate intrigue, mistrust of the Eltarians and it leads us neatly in to Kaitlin’s mission.
She’s going undercover at Ziktor Industries, a further nod to a certain villain from the VR Troopers TV series. There’s a strong chance – nudge, nudge – that they’re doing something shady. So under the guise of a journalist seeking an interview Kaitlin is able to infiltrate the building and pretty quickly find out there’s some nefarious activities going on behind the scenes. Of course all of that is interrupted by our mysterious figure with a connection to the Troopers Virtualizers. Then there’s the small matter of a rather Earth-shattering reveal to end the issue.
What’s striking about Scott’s writing is how much she is able to step out from under the Power Rangers Prime shadow. That’s not to say VR Troopers isn’t a property with enough agency to carry its own series. But being based in the Prime world, overrun by alien’s from Power Rangers is no easy feat. If it weren’t for passing references to the Eltarians you could be forgiven for thinking this was a totally separate book and I mean that in the best way possible. The fear was that VR Troopers would be smothered by a need to further the Rangers story. But that is simply not the case.
Sebastián Píriz and colourist JP Jordan bring an authentic vibrancy to the world of VR Troopers which never feels cartoony. All of the energy and drama feels fully intact without any of the drawbacks of 90s kids TV budget. As with the writing there’s a distinct difference to the look of Power Rangers Prime which neatly separates the two properties. But Píriz is still able to find an equal amount of depth and emotion within his artwork to punctuate Scott’s nimble dialogue.
Verdict
VR Troopers returns strong for its second issue. Mairghread Scott continues to mine franchise lore for build a neatly paced and action-packed story. If this is the direction of travel then there’s a bright future for the Troopers beyond this six-issue miniseries.
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