Power Rangers: Green #1 – The Dragon’s Grave

It is sometime in the future and Tommy Oliver (original Green Ranger) is the only living Power Ranger left in existence. Is Tommy still the Ranger we remember as kids? Or, has he gone into hiding…?

Creative Team

Pallie Paul Allor (Writer), Gustaffo Vargas (Artist), Ed Dukeshire (Letterer)

Madison Goyette (Designer), Ari Yarwood (Assistant Editor), Tea Fougher (Executive Editor), Andy Schmidt (Editor-in-Chief)

Publisher: BOOM! Studios

The Dragon’s Grave

Power Rangers: Green is a new miniseries released from BOOM! Studios! With this debut issue, readers are introduced to a very different Tommy Oliver that Power Rangers fans of old are not used to. Tommy Oliver is the last surviving Ranger alongside Alpha-5. What is going on with Tommy? Where is he? Why did he walk away from the Power Rangers?

This first issue opens up to a futuristic planet and a much older Tommy Oliver. One would think that he would still be training or possibly meditating, but no. This battle-beaten shell of Tommy is now a farmer. Working with a trusted old friend, Alpha-5. It is not known where they reside or how they got here. But what is known is that Tommy is all about working the farm. Joining them (Tommy and Alpha) on their farm is another individual, Mirella. A teenager who does not share the same discipline for the farm that Tommy does.

Readers will see an unexpected arrival of a character within this first issue! Authentic Power Ranger fans will have to pick their jaws up off the floor once this foe arrives on the pages. This ultimately leads to a very strange “team up” between these two iconic characters. Something big and bad is coming, and it is targeting individuals who have “magical” abilities. Which is not good for Tommy or his newly acquired partner.

The start of this new miniseries is going to open some doors that some fans may not be aware of. I am in hopes of some questions being answered within this series on top of the storytelling that will take place. I would love to see some explanation of what makes Tommy walk away. And there has to be more to this new threat to make Tommy come back into the fold of being a Ranger again. There have been many different threats since he went into hiding. What makes this threat any different from the others to bring him back?

The Writing

Pallie Paul Allor brings a fresh futuristic feel to this new Power Rangers miniseries. I really enjoyed how he formulated a correlation between major Tommy Oliver events and the day Tuesday. Giving newer fans of Power Rangers a simplistic history of Tommy and some of his pivotal moments. The plot for this story is gripping while building into something major coming in future issues. The one aspect of this book that brings a higher level of respect from me is the character Mirella, who is deaf. Bringing in this level of inclusivity is heartwarming. Especially seeing Tommy use sign language with Mirella. Cannot wait to read more!

The Artwork

Gustaffo Vargas provides fantastic art for this first issue! The rough textured lines and coloration add to the lore of this older Tommy Oliver that we see. The amazing attention to aging details in Tommy is delightful to see while truly letting readers understand that Tommy is in the later stage of his life. Attention is also directed to the scenery. The farm is basic and the “farm house” is spectacular!

Ed Dukeshire nails the lettering for this issue! Tommy has a standard lettering style and coloration, while Alpha has a more technical or mechanical style of lettering. This makes reading this issue very easy to differentiate who is speaking. The placement of the dialogue and narration bubbles is perfectly done as well! Great job!

Variant Covers

Final Thoughts

This debut issue brings back an iconic original Ranger in a futuristic setting. No longer a practicing Ranger, but the last Ranger in existence. Teaming up with an old foe to take on a new threat that is bringing Tommy out of retirement. This issue doesn’t answer some of the more pivotal questions surrounding Tommy, but it paints a comforting picture that he is living a more simplistic life. This is a must-read for Power Ranger fans! So make sure you pick up your copy of this new miniseries and add this to your “pull list.”

A little bonus for this review! I had the opportunity to speak with Pallie Paul Allor about this issue as well as what readers can expect in issue two. If you are a fan of Alpha, you are going to want to see what he does in this debut issue because it leads to much more from him physically in issue two!

Overall Grade: 9/10

Links

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Previous Power Rangers Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1 – Rangers Unite
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