Comics Corner: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #14

The Rangers’ fight for the fate of two universes gets even more dire in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #14.

Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Hendry Prasetya

This month’s issue of MMPR is an action-heavy outing, as Jason, Zack, Trini, and Kimberly storm Rita’s fortress while Billy and Tommy stand against Lord Drakkon’s siege on the Coinless in the alternate universe. The forces of evil are upping their foot soldier game as the home team comes face-to-face with an army of Goldar clones and Lord Drakkon’s sentries, armed with power stolen from that universe’s Rangers, overwhelm the Coinless.

Fourteen months after its debut and MMPR remains one of the most fun books on the stands. I don’t remember much about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show, but I’m sure an army of gun-wielding Rangers and multiple giant Goldars are much bigger threats than what they’re used to. There is a very small sliver of hope shown in the issue that I won’t spoil here, but I will say I’ very excited to see how it pays off. Let’s just say “Coinless” is a bit of a misnomer and leave it at that.

Prasetya’s art is suitably dynamic for a superhero book while simultaneously avoiding some of the genre’s shortcomings. Often artists who excel at drawing figures come short when it comes to machines, and vice versa, but the MMPR art makes them both look good. The highlight of the issue for me is when Lord Drakkon reenacts one of Tommy’s most famous moments from the show when he breaks into the Falconzord cockpit to stop Tommy and Saba. The action on that page flows well from panel to panel and serves to heighten the threat that Lord Drakkon poses.

Publishers too often treat adaptations as second-string material, but BOOM! Studios is dedicated to the MMPR license and it shows. In an era flooded with event comics and creative teams that change members from month to month, Higgins and Prasetya’s tenure on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers serves to carve out a distinct identity in the field. I’m looking forward to how they end this arc and how they move on afterwards.