Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 is a major shift for the series as the previous issue ended with Tommy Oliver making his return. As the most iconic Power Ranger, Tommy represents a lot for the franchise, particularly for the Mighty Morphin team. Thus far I have not been very impressed by this series. This series has struggled to find its footing and consistent voice. Maybe that will change with Tommy Oliver’s return. Let’s see if Tommy Oliver’s star power is enough to drive up interest in this series starting with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Marguerite Bennett
Artist: Andrew Lee Griffith
Colorist: Joshua Jensen
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #5 SOLICITATION
“Angel Grove’s most capable public defender isn’t just defending the innocent in courts—Zack Taylor’s also keeping them safe as the Black Mighty Morphin Power Ranger!
However, keeping it all in balance has become a harder struggle for Zack in adulthood. Especially now that a certain Green Ranger has returned and wants the chance to explain his absent past… Can these two old friends put the past aside long enough to join forces against Rita Rabiosa’s newest monster attack?” – BOOM! Studios
REVIEW
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 is exactly the type of issue this series needs. The previous issues have been on the cusp of tapping into the potential of the story we’ve been presented with. But as close as we’ve gotten, that potential has seemed just out of reach. Then Tommy Oliver enters the picture, and the game changes exactly the way it needs to. Tommy not only brings a sense of importance but also makes it clear connection to continuity that gets this Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series off an island it was living on its own.
From the beginning the vibe has been off because it did feel like the universe of this series was on pause until the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers returned as older versions of themselves. That made it seem like the series was just happy just using nostalgia to drive the interest of this series. Its in changing this where we get the power of Tommy Oliver becoming part of the cast being shown. Tommy immediately brings a sense of continuity with his presence in more ways than one.
Tommy’s presence in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 is where we see the strength of Marguerite Bennett writing shine. Tommy makes several references to other Power Rangers’ teams that help put over the threat of Rita Raboisa. It is very simple how it is done but goes a long way. It gives the reader the vibe that this is a living, breathing universe that has had many things go on since the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first debuted.
These references to continuity also do a lot to better understand why Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Trini, and Billy have been acting the way they have. The five original Power Rangers have been living their own lives for a decade at the very least. In that time, they and the world have changed. Which is why we have seen their return to being Power Rangers not go as smoothly as when they were in their prime as the only Power Rangers team. That is an important part of the narrative for each of the character arcs Jason, Kimberly, Zack, Trini, and Billy find themselves in different ways.
While it is disappointing, this isn’t more explored with Jason, Kimberly, Trini, and Billy, at least we had Zack representing. Zack’s dynamic with Tommy spoke to how much Zack has developed a life in his post-Power Rangers career. He was possibly the most adjusted to a normal life of being a lawyer and the responsibilities he has taken on in his professional career. Returning to being a Power Ranger means more than when he became one as a teenager. It was a good examination of Zack’s character that made him the most interesting character out of the core five we’ve focused on so far.
Andrew Lee Griffith does a solid job of making sure that art does its job of showing the dynamic between Tommy and Zack. They are distinct characters and things like their respective styles is something that goes a long way. It helps the scenes between the two shows where they are at this point in their lives. When the action breaks out Griffith gives us a lot of energetic panels that show how chaotic the fight with giant monsters and Zords are.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 is the best issue of the series thus far. It provides a sense of continuity that wasn’t always present in the previous four issues. That is thanks to Tommy Oliver being brought in to become a core part of the cast. Tommy and Zack’s dynamic throughout does a lot to get over the core concept of this series and, most importantly, makes you buy in the narrative direction. That buy in creates a greater sense of investment in where this story with Rita Rabiosa as the villain will go.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
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