Coming to stores near you this week from BOOM! Studios, Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers keeps the balling rolling with issue #26.
If you’ve been keeping up with the “Necessary Evil” story arc, or at least with my reviews on it, you know that this story has taken a focus to Jason Lee Scott more than it has the other Rangers. For all you Tommy Oliver fans out there, you’ll be happy to know this is an issue centered almost entirely around him.
Lately, Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers has been covering the start of events that would lead to Jason, Zack, and Trini’s, transformation into the Omega Rangers that we’ve seen so much of in the sibling comic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, as well as Tommy’s inevitable transformation into the White Ranger. Issue #26 definitely focuses more on the latter as writer Ryan Parrott explores his own take on the White Ranger’s inception.
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Alongside the White Ranger’s origin, this issue actually comes right in with a flashback of Tommy under Rita’s spell as the Green Ranger, potentially letting us know that story is not done with just yet. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll have that awesome “White Ranger vs Green Ranger” episode adapted as well.
This look at Tommy’s evil past is accompanied also by some layers of his more present character peeled back as well. Seeing powerless Tommy hell-bent on becoming a Ranger again, and doing whatever it takes for his friends, is a fitting direction towards who he is to become.
Francesco Mortarino’s art continues to impress me over and over with each stunning panel. From clean character designs that match the actors in the show with a cartoony twist to these insane backgrounds and architecture that are glistening with life and originality, his art shines especially bright with the settings in this issue paired with the immaculate colors from Raúl Angulo.
Ed Dukeshire continues the lettering in this issue and I’ll have no complaints as long as we keep my favorite sound effects that I’ve covered in my past reviews in place. Genuinely worth noting that dialogue in these comics is very fun to read and easy to imagine with the voices of the cast members of the original show. That’s not the easiest thing to accomplish when re-writing characters.
There continues to be this childhood grabbing whimsicality in every issue of this series, even more so in Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers than Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. From the more cartoony art style to the overall tone in the dialogue and writing, Go Go feels more in touch with the lighter side of the series. That’s not to say it gives up the depth that is written into Mighty Morphin but I will say the approach feels more “all ages” than anything.
As “Necessary Evil” continues I find myself growing more eager, awaiting each issue as they come. Issue #26 is no exception as the story continues to comes together page by page. I am very excited to see what else the team has in store for us here and if they’ll do anything to dramatically cross over the two series as they did back in the “Shattered Grid” arc.
Knowing what we already do from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, what are you excited to see explored further in Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers? Rocky Adam and Aisha’s first appearance? How the Omega Rangers meet Kiya? Let us know in the comments!
