VR Troopers is one of those franchises that I definitely remember watching as a kid. This was more because VR Troopers hit on the feeling of wanting to watch more Power Rangers like shows at the time. Which was certainly what Saban was going for when adapting the Metal Hero Series into VR Troopers. Though unlike Power Rangers, I don’t honestly remember anything about VR Troopers outside of immediately being able to identify their costumes. So the new VR Troopers series by Mairghread Scott and JP Jordan is something I’m interested in if they’ll hit on the nostalgia button. BOOM! Studios provided us with an early copy of the first issue to find out. See how it turns out with our advance review of VR Troopers #1.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mairghread Scott
Artist: Sebastian Piriz
Colorist: JP Jordan
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
VR TROOPERS #1 SOLICITATION
“We are VR! Spinning out of Power Rangers Prime, the first VR Troopers series in 30 years! The perfect jumping on point for Troopers fans old or new! The VR Troopers are the most elite of the Eltarian empire’s human heroes on Earth, but what secrets are the Eltarian’s keeping? When VR Ryan tracks down a rogue Skug, he’ll come face-to-face with a foe who will change his understanding of VR—and himself—forever!” – BOOM! Studios
REVIEW
VR Troopers #1 plays it smart of being a spinoff for the current Power Rangers Prime series rather than being its own thing. Afterall, it has been 30 years since we last saw the VR Troopers franchise and unlike the Power Rangers, they don’t have a long history to play off. This direction makes a more natural way to open the door to both new and long-time fans without having to start all over hoping both will get into the direction.
Building off the continuity created by Power Rangers Prime also makes the focus on Ryan Steele for VR Troopers #1 work much better. Outside of the main Power Rangers Prime cast members Ryan has been the most developed secondary character in that series. So diving into his backstory to open up this first issue is a good way to create some immediate momentum.
The best thing that Mairghread Scott does with this is to not break away from how the VR Troopers have been portrayed. While protectors of Earth, being Eltarian strike force members has shown that Ryan and his crew are maintaining a world order that isn’t as benevolent as it appears. Scott continues to show this be the case leading the reader not to suddenly think of Ryan as a hero. Instead, VR Troopers are positioned in the protagonist role without suddenly being turned into the “good guys” you are cheering for. It is not an easy balance to strike but Scott finds a way.
That is helped by the threat that the VR Troopers are faced with. The antagonist of this story establishes a greater mystery going on. The ties to the greater Power Rangers Universe that BOOM! Studios has created is certainly intriguing. It builds on the greater narrative of the mystery behind the origins of this new continuity. Even if the antagonist isn’t given a lot of dialogue their action is all purposeful. They build a foundation for this series to play a bigger role in how Power Rangers Prime will end while still letting this stand on its own as a comic book.
This direction of the story also helps build a way to also learn about Ryan’s other teammates, JB Reese and Kaitlin Star. Both are given enough of a presentation bump so they aren’t just simply Ryan’s teammates. There is enough establish about their respective personalities that hopefully future issues explore JB and Kaitlin’s character. It would be a waste if that is not done as Ryan can only carry this story so far as the lead.
The one disappointment with VR Troopers #1 is how there is some spoilers for the current events of Power Rangers Prime. It isn’t a game-changing spoiler but there is a line dropped that hints at a major development we haven’t fully seen play out in Power Rangers Prime. This may have just been an unfortunate scheduling thing, but it is disappointing that the timing couldn’t be worked out better.
Sebastian Piriz art style works well with the design created for this new continuity created by Power Rangers Prime. Everything in VR Troopers #1 is clean that it works for how this series is giving us a look at this universe from a different perspective. Piriz’s artwork was at its best when the VR Troopers were suited up. The artwork popped more and the action choreography we did get hints at how well Piriz will do when more fights break out in future issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
VR Troopers #1 is a very good start to this spinoff that builds on the new continuity created by the Power Rangers Prime series. Every member of the cast is well positioned as protagonists while not breaking away from how they have been portrayed thus far. It created a different reading experience for how we view the series’ leads that will help carry this story. If you’re a fan of VR Troopers or BOOM! Studios Power Rangers make sure to pick up this comic book.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Check out the full preview for VR Troopers #1 by clicking here.
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