There’s a moment in Power Rangers Prime #11 where the Pink Ranger, Orion, states, “There’s no theme here. Just…power.” He’s speaking about the power of the animals that he and his fellow Rangers wield, but he’s wrong on two counts. First, the theme is power, as Rita Repulsa intends to give her new Rangers their iconic Zords (despite them being totally different animals, as Orion points out.) Second, this is a comic that has multiple themes running through it, and one of them is about the bonds we have with family – for good or ill.
Power Rangers Prime #11 puts those bonds on full display, starting with Lauren and her family. In the opening flashback, it’s revealed that the Shibas hid away when the Eltarians colonized Earth, as Lauren’s father wanted to make sure his family wasn’t hurt. In the present, Lauren has the reunion she’s been chasing after…but it soon goes south. Jun is also torn between his parents, as his mother is willing to do anything to protect him, while his father is hellbent on killing the Rangers.
Melissa Flores delivers the emotional punch needed for both of these moments. Both Lauren and her father raise good points; she points out that being a Power Ranger means that you have to stand and fight for what’s important, while he argues that keeping his family safe is the most important thing. It’s reflected in Jun’s mother seeking a deal with Rita – while she might despise the Power Rangers, she loves her son more and is willing to do anything to ensure his safety.
BOOM!
Power Rangers Prime #11 also features what might be some of Michael Yg’s most gorgeous artwork to date. A fight scene between Jun’s mom and Rita is rich with tension and feels far deadlier than the usual scuffles since they’re both extremely skilled combatants. The scenes with Lauren feel extremely tense – she’s trapped in a small room, and Yg slowly fills the borders of the page with shadows, which makes it feel like walls are literally closing in on her.
Two standout images come near the beginning and end of the book, featuring the Rangers’ signature animals. In a twist, it turns out not all of them draw powers from dinosaurs, but when you see what animal matches which Ranger, you’ll know that it makes sense. It also lets Yg draw a hell of a morphing sequence, backed by Joana LaFuente highlighting each Ranger’s animal with their signature color. It’s a sharp contrast to the cold obsidian hue of Jun’s father’s armor, or the pink and gold-streaked sunset that marks the Rangers’ battleground.
The most interesting part of Power Rangers Prime #11 concerns the VR Troopers, and hints that they may flip from antagonists to allies. I would honestly love it if that happened; there’s a lot of potential to explore there, and it could open the door for Flores and Yg to explore more of Saban’s other tokusatsu-based properties like Beetleborgs or Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad.
Power Rangers Prime #11 explores the connections the Rangers have with their families, and how it’s shaped them for good or ill. With the final pages teeing up a massive battle, it looks like the book is ready to shift into a whole new gear.
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