Ranger Academy #8: It’s Not Easy Being Green!

Written by MARIA INGRANDE MORA, Illustrated by JO MI-GYEONG, Colored by JOANA LAFUENTE, Lettered by
ED DUKESHIRE, Main cover by MIGUEL MERCADO

Once the Junior Rangers take care of projectors, the “simulation” shuts down. With Time Force Yellow, Katie walks in with Mathis and other staff with the biggest WTF on their faces. Tula steps up and boldly lies that it was all her fault, breaking into the green campus, etc., and sneakily tells Sage that she will be a great Green Ranger like her sister was.

Sage finally morphed while stuck in the Battle Matrix (the Ranger Academy’s idea of the Danger Room), where all hell was breaking loose. Tula morphed up, and they started to take out the projectors while Lindy tried to hack the door to get out. Whoever was controlling this Battle Matrix was out for blood.

Later in the infirmary, Lindy and Sage have a heart-to-heart. Then summoned by the HEAD Master. While the Cadets are trying to discover what happened to their senior Tula. The Head Master discusses past events and explains how a former Green Cadet was a “VESSEL” for Dark Spector. Thus corrupting the Green Campus and leading to countless lost lives! Including the team that Sage’s Father was THE RED RANGER and the only survivor. OH, and Tula has been expelled, too…

Thoughts From THE GRID

The Story

FINALLY, we get some backstory! Not just bits and pieces, but a relevant backstory!!! It still makes us wonder if this is tied slightly to the current MMPR run with the whole Dark Spector infection. As I’ve stated before, THE GRID is omnipresent, but that’s my theory. And yes, I’ve asked Melissa Flores, and she won’t confirm anything.

The Art

The quasi-anime-inspired style is finally growing on me. The idea for Sage’s “Slicer Staff” is unique and something we haven’t seen in ranger history as a double-sided weapon. The weapons give me a Kyuranger vibe, as they all start the same but can change based on the individual. For the Non-Sentai fans, the best correlation would be the Transdaggers from Lost Galaxy.

Ranger Academy #8 is a 7.5 out of 10 Power Coins

This series is still in second gear. One glaring issue is the pacing. While trying to balance teen drama, ranger drama (because they are separate in my head), and the overall story, the pace of the books gets muddy.

Don’t get me wrong; they added plenty to the issue, especially the context of why Sage’s dad was so ANTI-RANGER, but we probably could have cut a few panels from the infirmary scene and the fight sequence to really build the backstory.

AGAIN, this story is good for those looking to expand the Rangerverse. But I think those of us coming into it with 30 years of knowledge are looking for more of a foundation to build from. I think a UNLIMITED side story would help codify the whole framework.

How are you feeling about the storyline and where it MIGHT go? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and please consider following me personally at OFF THE CUFF TOM on social media. Don’t forget to support your LCS and morph back to the Nerd Initiative for all your Ranger Reviews!