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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4 – Boom! Studios/ IDW Publishing
Creative Team: Ryan Parrot, Dan Mora, Raul Angulo and Ed Dukeshire
Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast by way of the Nerd Initiative!
For this entry, we have arrived at the penultimate point in the sequel to the 2019 story, involving two of the biggest fandoms in all of pop culture. Representing BOOM! Studios are the legendary MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS! Returning to join them for this adventure and hailing from the pages of IDW Publishing are the “Heroes in a Half Shell”, the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.
MMPR/TMNT II #4 by Ryan Parrott, Dan Mora, Raul Angulo and Ed Dukeshire has been an exciting ride with great twists and amazing creative takes mixed throughout. Going into the final moments, all bets are off on how this shapes up for the finale.
Let’s not waste any more time and check out what’s happening here, shall we?
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The Clash Of Two Pop Culture Giants
When these two forces meet the first time, their combined efforts defeated Shredder and Rita Repulsa. In the aftermath, Shredder was dropped off the radar. Casey Jones (longtime TMNT ally) hasn’t given up on finding his whereabouts although his plans have gone in a very different direction.
Meanwhile, the Turtles are enjoying time away in Angel Grove (home of the Power Rangers) . There is no rest for the weary, as the good guys are brought back into action when a jailbreak commences. This frees Baxter Stockman (TMNT villain) and it was all planned by a rogues gallery led by Ranger X….who is revealed to be Casey Jones himself!
The heroes try to figure out why their friend jumped to the sidelines, but face an even bigger threat right at their doorstep….literally. Rita Repulsa has led an army to the Power Rangers Command Center! As the takeover commences, a new player enters the field: Shredder, who is surprisingly helping the heroes (for his own personal reasons). They need all the help they can get when the Morphin Grid is compromised and drastic measures are taken to fight back. These actions lead to our heroes to make a dangerous call. The Turtles make a deal to work with Shredder, in order to take the fight to Krang’s headquarters in Dimension X!
What’s Happening Now?
This issue kicks off with the reluctant partners making their way through the desolate Dimension X terrain to Krang’s headquarters. Readers bare witness to some great conversation between the Turtles and their greatest enemy. Hearing Shredder talk about his true motives is a moment not to be forgotten. Meanwhile back in Angel Grove, the Rangers (each using a hybrid mutagen – morphin coin) are taking the fight to Krang’s forces.
Readers will be blown away by the action unfolding. Master Splinter is leading the team through the tough challenge ahead but there are more pressing issues waiting if they survive.
Krang and Rita Repulsa make their final plans inside what remains of the Command Center. Before getting to see that through, Rita does have one loose end to deal with. Its’ one that will have huge implications moving forward.
With victory in their grasp, what does this evil pair have in line for the finish? Will the Turtles push into Dimension X be all for nothing? Even with the fantastic moments involved in their mission hat nee to be seen to be believed, victory is far from guaranteed. The story ramps up to a fever pitch with readers left with their jaws dropped at the final page of this issue! No one is ready for that moment! No One!
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Story Review
Parrott sets the players in place superbly heading into the finale issue. The banter between the Turtles and Shredder is a solid, pace breaking moment which gives some great insight into the Turtles’ greatest foe. He turns out to be the driving character of this issue with his actions in Dimension X. Being a reluctant hero in some sense makes readers connect with Shredder on a different level.
Master Splinter leading the Mutated Rangers was another highlight that readers will enjoy. Seeing switch-ups like this has given the fandoms great memories to take with them after this series wraps up. Parrott once again puts on a clinic for juggling all these characters with excellent pacing. All the key players get their due and standout moments building for an explosive ending to this incredible sequel.
Artwork Overview
DAN. MORA. NUFF. SAID! Seriously, the energy pouring out of the action panels is unmatched. The two page spread with Splinter and the Mutated Rangers is absolutely mind-blowing. Every page keeps up a manic pace to never let the readers get bored. Mora’s version of Krang is unparalleled. The details put into his suit make a huge impact.
It compliments Rita’s deranged delight in the fact that their plans are succeeding. This shines thru when Rita is taking care of her loose end issue. As previously mentioned with Parrott, Mora gets in so many characters with his action panels that they feel bigger than the moment unfolding. The issue’s surprise moments continue to jump off the page, but noting compares to the mic drop full page panel to conclude this issue.
Final Point
The combined forces of two of pop culture’s biggest superhero teams are pushed to the brink with the fate of the world slipping thru their grasps. Parrott, Mora and the team craft a highly engaging issue with their phenomenal writing and energetic artwork. Every page feels like a massive event that only builds up the tension heading into the must-read finale. The series has been a priority pick-up so far, and that streak continues with this latest chapter!
Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know what you thought of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4. Thank for reading Parlay Points on Nerd Initiative!