Here’s one for the ages: two massive properties that have rocked our youth are now finally meeting in one of the best ways possible — the comic book. BOOM! Studios will be teaming up the original Power Rangers with IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is just going to make everyone’s day and hopefully get you to take out your action figures and emulate your own crossover as well. Let us take a look at the first issue.
I remember as a kid enjoying the original TMNT cartoon along with the old school Playmates toys; I never got the whole group of Turtles, but those figures were the most amazing thing a kid could want. Those heroes in a half shell entertained me in my youth, but sadly I lost way with them. Then, when I got older and was in middle school Fox aired MMPR and I was blown away by the costumes and ZORDS! MMPR was just amazing and luckily I got a Megazord, but not all the Rangers. Then when they started changing Rangers I found myself being less attached.
BOOM! Studios have awakened the Power Ranger fan inside me once again with their new comic book series and it is something to behold. I’m excited once again to see these two teams of martial artists team up and bring out my inner geek.
To get back to the review, right off the bat this will be a trip down memory lane. You will see the original Rangers in their first round of costumes; that means Jason Lee will be the Red Ranger in this series and Tommy Oliver is the Green Ranger, so this must take place before the current arcs in the BOOM! Power Rangers comic book series. The Ninja Turtles have a modern design to them but they for sure embody the original voices from the 1980s TV show.
The team up will hit you right in the childhood and bring out some fond memories. I love the way the individual characteristics come out from each; for example the leadership qualities of Leonardo and Jason shine and how they are in line with the rest of the team. The angst of Tommy and Raphael is ever present in how they act with their teammates and of course each other when they do finally meet up. Now, this is issue #1, so it sets up the drama: Tommy is missing and the others are worried for him, then we see that he is a member of the Foot Clan and fights the Turtles. Why would he do that? Under a spell, perhaps? We’re not sure yet, but Shredder is very interested in the power Tommy has. Shredder is the only major villain we have seen so far, so I wonder who will be the big bad from MMPR — hopefully Lord Zedd or maybe a Shredder/Rita romance?
One thing I did find interesting in this crossover was the fact that the Turtles knew of the Power Rangers, yet the Rangers didn’t know who the Turtles were, even to a point of thinking there were Finster’s monsters. Issue #1 does a great job of setup, treating us to some interesting matchups, but overall it was just great to see the dynamic ninja moves of both teams, the will of each character, the amazing weapons, and the perfect voices and attitudes of all the characters involved.
Don’t worry if you are a lapsed fan of these franchises. Ryan Parrott has taken the essence of each team and brought it over here without needing to have read or kept up with either team. Simone di Meo creates killer art and captures the character designs perfectly, and kudos to Walter Baiamonte and Igor Monti for making the colors pop. Go out there and add this comic to your pull list — this is the book you’ve been waiting for your whole childhood.
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