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Ryan Parrott and Rachel Wagner co-write this incredible story that would be just fine to throw a standard run number on it and call it a day. But this needed that extra space so much so it took up THE WHOLE GRID.
Power Rangers Unlimited #1: The Morphin Masters by Ryan Parrott & Rachel Wagner Illustrated by Daniel Bayliss, Colored by Artuhr Helsi, Lettered by Ed Dukeshire, Main Cover by Toni Infante
Drakkon is Dead
The shocking reveal last week that Lord Drakkon is no more and how he gave his life to save his Ranger Slayer was a hard blow for the Power Ragner community. So, to follow up the story in this 41-page marvel is just what we need to get that taste out of our mouths.
We’re not in Angel Grove Anymore!
Kim is monologing about her life and where she has grown up. She finally hears a voice. It’s a trapped XI unit in a forest. Instead of helping the Xi unit free, she gets attacked by color-coded beast spirits, all infected and under dark specters’ influence. She is in a lose-lose situation and disengages from the fight to follow a voice. That voice being … The Pink Emissary!
“Tickled” Pink or Turquoise?
The last of the Sqaudron Rangers, whose fate wasn’t entirely clear from the finale of Power Rangers Universe, has returned as an enigmatic guide to the Ranger Slayer. They come to a temple where Kim gets to talk with Billy, her Billy. Asking to hand over the White Power Coin, she refuses, and when she puts him to a simple test, the dude goes nuts and transformer in the first Dark Emissary. What a battle to see what we have become accustomed to with the everchanging character. This evil twist puts a whole too menacing tone. She took her shot, and as always, she didn’t miss it!
The next few pages go back and forth. “Pinkie.” Finally, Kim calls BS and puts Pinkie in check, realizing that magnanimously stupid error of her blind faith.
Is It A Tag Team Match?
As Pinkie and Kim make it to the heart of The Grid, we finally fill out the roster with Kim getting attacked by Dark Green and Black emissaries! We get the usual I’m not brainwashed banter but this battle is different than earlier with Dark Blue. They have WEAPONS! Since they are constantly transitioning in The Grid, they can pull whatever they want, assuming it’s in their shade.
Kim is helpless as Pinkine can’t interfere. Dark Black uses the Bison axe to chop the Bow of Darkness in half! Pinkie comes to her aid, with one-half finally joining the fight. Black and Green disappear. So they proceed inside to find the Morphin Masters. And that didn’t go so well. They have been so far outside of reality they have no semblance of the gravity of the situation. Especially when Kim finds out Pinkie has been wounded by her would-be teammates. They, too, fight, and Kim wins, but at what cost? Pinkie becomes one with the grid again, but before she tells the Ranger slayer, she now has faith in HER, not the Morphin Masters.
Kim walks away Micheal Bay style with the new “Swords of Darkness.” Sadly, there was no fireball, but there was still a blank and almost vapid look on the Morphin Masters’ faces.
Thoughts From THE GRID
Yeah, Putty! From the second I knew Ryan was coming back, I was pumped, to say the least, but when you add top Rachel Wagner to the mix. For me personally, their last MMPR collab was Power Rangers #10, and that issue made me drunk girl cry! This one didn’t bring me to tears but pulled at my heart.
Going into direct comparison mode to PR#10, instead of using the Emissary to do all the talking, the internal monologuing served this perfectly. Consider all the weight of the world this Ranger Slayer must carry. You have the countless murders, the becoming the new Drakkon of her world, saving the multiverse. She’s got some baggage, and there it was in front of her.
It is a great call back to using animal spirits. Did anyone notice an orange Scorpion? Is someone a Kyuranger fan or Cosmic Fury? I won’t tell! Second, using spirit animals from all over the grid was a nice touch! Bear, gorilla, rhino, “mantis,” and lion.
The Dark emissaries were a great addition. It ties up where the other three squadron rangers went, then to go as far as choosing to pull out any range weapon of all time works! Even going as far as dual-wielding from two completely separate teams! That’s Ryan showing Missy how to play in the sandbox. There were even two callbacks to JDF that I could find.
Final Score 8.5 out of 10 Power Coins
This is an excellent breath of fresh air smack dab in the middle of Mellisa Flores’ run. It’s true to form, but the socially awkward morphin masters were a buzz kill. And how will the Swords of Darkness and the Power Coin of White Light pan out together? I’m excited. And I have my theories! Ranger Slayer Evo II
What are your thoughts or theories? Leave your comments below. Please consider following me personally at OFF THE CUFF TOM on social media. Don’t forget to support your LCS and return to the Nerd Initiative for all your Ranger Reviews!
