“Unlimited” is a word that holds plenty of weight, especially when it comes to superhero fiction. Justice League Unlimited (both the animated series and the current comic) spans nearly the entirety of the DC Universe, meaning that dark horse favorites like Blue Beetle or Dr. Occult can stand shoulder to shoulder with Superman, Batman and the rest of the heavy hitters. The X-Men Unlimited series helps give the spotlight to every mutant who’s ever joined the X-Men’s cause. Power Rangers Unlimited #1 is the latest series to make use of this trend, and it more than succeeds.
A mysterious force is ripping through space and time, bringing villains from across Power Rangers history into different time periods to cause chaos. To combat this onslaught of evil, a mysterious “Operator” on the planet Aquitar sends the Striking Tiger Unlimited Ranger to battle these forces. Yet the Striking Tiger Ranger isn’t alone: the Operator can also call on anyone who’s been a Power Ranger to enter the fight. You read that right: This is a comic that is set to feature every single Power Ranger fighting a legion of classic villains.
In short, it’s the comic that fans have been clamoring for. One of the underlying criticisms of BOOM! Studios’ tenure with the Power Rangers franchise, or just the Power Rangers franchise in general, is that the Mighty Morphin team tends to always get the limelight. Power Rangers Unlimited #1 finally fixes that by displaying a collection of different Rangers, and it isn’t picky about where they come from. One page features the entirety of the team from Power Rangers Jungle Fury, while another has a trio of Blue Rangers. Whether it’s from a beloved series like Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, or a less-than-beloved series in the case of Power Rangers Megaforce, Kenny Porter and Joey Esposito make sure that every era of Ranger gets the spotlight.
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That includes the original Mighty Morphin era. If you’ve read the story in BOOM!’s Power Rangers Comics Giveaway Day one-shot, or if you’ve taken a closer look at her costume, you’ve probably guessed that Striking Tiger Unlimited Ranger is actually Trini Kwan, the original Yellow Ranger. In a twist, Porter and Esposito showcase that Trini doesn’t want the help of an army of Rangers, due to a traumatic event that cost the lives of her friends and family. It’s a great bit of character work, for a character who solely needed it. While the other original Rangers had their own definitive personalities, Trini never got that much focus; between the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series, Unlimited and the Power Rangers: Forces of Chaos novel I’m glad more writers are striving to correct that.
Alessio Zonio also deserves a medal for the level of artwork he’s putting out with Power Rangers Unlimited #1. Not only does he manage to illustrate extremely dynamic fight scenes between Rangers and monsters, but he perfectly captures each Ranger that appears in this book. Whether it’s the elaborate gold lining of the Zeo Rangers’ suits or the long flowing capes of the Mystic Force Rangers, Zonio pays attention to detail. The same goes for the monsters, including the dragon-esque Magmadorr and the massive pirate Captain Mutiny. But the standout is Lord Zedd, who appears on the very first page; Zonio doesn’t shy away from how terrifying of a figure he is with all of his exposed muscle, horrifying metal mask, and signature Z-staff.
The rest of the art team isn’t slacking off, either. Raul Angulo brings plenty of the vibrant colors you’d expect from this franchise, while longtime letterer Ed Dukeshire once again comes up with a unique lettering scheme to make each Ranger stand out. Not only do they get their full name and designation, but their letters are in the same color as their Ranger forms, immediately making them stand out. A franchise like Power Rangers has always been big and bombastic, and Dukeshire understands that.
Power Rangers Unlimited #1 more than lives up to its name, delivering a tale that appeals to Ranger fans of all shapes and sizes while never losing sight of what makes the franchise so special. I love Power Rangers because it’s about potential: the potential to be more than you are, to find your people, and to make a difference in the world. This comic taps into the idea of that potential being, well, unlimited – and that’s a message more people can use.
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