Power Rangers Prime made a major impact with its debut issue, and I’m not surprised. Not only did Melissa Flores and Michael Yg present a world where the Power Rangers were fugitives and Earth was under Eltarian rule, but they also introduced another long-lost ’90s show with the VR Troopers. (I could go into why this is a big deal, but that’s a whole other review.)
Power Rangers Prime #2 keeps up this momentum, but it switches focus to Rita Repulsa. Rita’s been one of the Rangers’ most iconic enemies, and now she’s turned her attention to the Eltarian occupation of Earth. Keeping in line with how Prime #1 revamped certain characters in the Rangers universe, Yg presents a new design for Rita: snow white hair, a dress that incorporates elements of her classic design, and a new take on her signature wand that feels very much in line with Sailor Moon.
Yg and colorist Fabi Marques don’t skimp on the action, either. When Rita’s cornered by Eltarian guards, she pulls a typical Rita movie: summoning a monster. Said monster happens to be a massive firebird, which lets Marques flood the page with reddish orange light and Yg to draw scenery awash in flame. But the monster turns out to have a mind of its own, which plays into the themes of free will that Flores is touching upon.
BOOM! Studios
When she’s not following Rita’s trail of chaos, Flores checks in with Lauren, Mark, Jun, and Orion. The dynamic between these four characters is a delight: Mark is fairly shy, but willing to do the right thing. Orion’s a loveable himbo. Lauren is determined to find her family and fight back, but is running into an issue with her Power Rangers. Jun…is still somewhat of a mystery, but there’s hints that he’s not happy with Eltar’s overbearing influence on Earth.
That dynamic is upended by Jun’s friend Valentina, who unlike him isn’t happy to find a Power Ranger in her apartment. I don’t know exactly where Flores is heading, but she’s seemingly gathered all the ingredients for a new Power Rangers team – and even teased a conflict between them and the VR Troopers, which gets me excited. As someone who grew up on Power Rangers and all of its follow-ups, the idea of them meeting up is ripe with potential.
Power Rangers Prime #2 continues its revamping of the Power Rangers universe by presenting a new take on Rita Repulsa and further exploring the notion of free will. Though this issue is also light on Ranger action, it’s all but hinting that when Flores and Yg deliver on the Power Ranger action it’ll be unlike anything fans have seen.
You must be logged in to post a comment.