Every Power Rangers story takes the time to give a spotlight to each member, fleshing out their characters and showcasing who they are out of the brightly colored suits and giant robots. Power Rangers Prime #10 is no different, as it finally unpacks the life of the new Black Ranger, Jun. When Jun was first introduced he came off as arrogant due to his Eltarian nature, and the fact that his mother Janessa was a high-ranking Eltarian official. Flashbacks scattered throughout the issue reveal that this wasn’t the case; as a kid, Jun struggled to live up to his father Volar’s impossibly high standards. That continues to the present day, as Jun is torn between his family and his new Ranger abilities.
This isn’t the first time that Melissa Flores has given one of the new Rangers a spotlight issue, and it probably won’t be the last. Flores decides to zero in on the choices that Jun has to make: will he finally join the Eltarian Guardians, or fully commit to this new team of Rangers? Sequences in past and present give equal weight to both choices, but they actually share one thing in common. Jun wants to belong. Being raised on Earth for all his life, he doesn’t feel like part of Eltar, and with the Rangers he’s not sure he fits in. Flores’ gift for character work is on full display here, as she manages to give Jun plenty of layers and make him a more interesting character than I expected.
For Power Rangers Prime #10, art duties fall to Simona Di Gianfelice, who is no stranger to the world of Power Rangers or working with Flores, as she illustrated the “Darkest Hour” storyline that closed out BOOM!’s original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series. A large part of what made “Darkest Hour” was the moments when the Rangers had deep conversations, even in the face of Armageddon, and that’s a trend that Gianfelice continues here. It especially shows in Jun’s body language. In the past sections, he’s outright scared of Volar, shrinking into himself. That’s a far cry from the present, which sees him relatively relaxed around Blue Ranger Mark, to the point where the two almost kiss (twice!).
BOOM!
I also love the contrast that Gianfelice and colorist Joana LaFuente give Volar and Jun. Unlike his fellow Eltarians, Volar’s clad from head to toe in menacing black armor, complete with a razor sharp spear and hooded cape. That’s not what makes him frightening though; it’s the scars lining his visage, and the fangs that poke out of his mouth. It’s a design that fits a predator, but more importantly it looks like a twisted version of Jun’s Black Ranger suit, as if to showcase what Jun would become if he took the Eltarians’ path. LaFuenta also utilizes plenty of color for a flashback sequence featuring the past Power Rangers, which longtime Ranger fans will want to keep an eye out for.
Power Rangers Prime #10 is another great solo issue, fleshing out the new Black Ranger while showing how he’s a man torn between two worlds. I’m now wondering who’s next to get the spotlight, but I trust Flores and the rest of the creative team to keep delivering great character-driven stories.
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