(2025 Update: New video upload.)
The review is a bit of an anomaly, as the video footage is a couple years old, the text review used as the basis for the script was written last year, and the audio being a couple months old when I initially put the review together. But still, it went together rather nicely.
By the way, exactly one year ago, I posted my first video review for Track & Field for the NES. Pure coincidence, I swear.
So, this issue is rather popular within the fandom because it brings up an interesting conundrum; whatever happened to the old Thunderzords and subsequent powers that were destroyed and thus completely forgotten about? Turns out Zedd collected them, created five new coins, and gave them to five completely despicable lowlifes so that he can turn them into Dark Rangers.
So you have Ninja rangers vs. Dark Rangers… because the book is about the Ninja Rangers and god forbid we actually have these teens use their full Ranger suits for something that calls for drastic measures. Hell, the cover even implies boldly that people demanded the Power Rangers take on the Dark Rangers (which people, Marvel?), but we’re not even getting that. Anyway, setting that aside, it’s probably the most compelling story to come out of these early MMPR comic books… even with all the inane dialogue that has become a staple in this Marvel run and what makes it all the more tragic is that there’s no conclusion or follow-up.
This short story leaves things open… and never touches on them again. Not in the remaining two issues of this series nor in the other Marvel series… it leaves you hanging and never touches on it again. This puts a damper on the story, knowing that it’s never going to be resolved. Sadly, this wouldn’t be the only PR comic story that will be left unresolved… but that’s another story.
And now for something different…
Disclaimer: That katana that Tommy is holding in his hand does not appear anywhere in this comic book. In fact, neither does Tommy or any of the other guys, as it’s a solo outing for the ladies this time around.
In our second Ninja Rangers short story, Kim and Aisha are shopping and Kim has a bunch of clothes she wants to try out… which puts Aisha to sleep or something. Then Rita and Zedd cast a spell on the mall where everyone is hogging the good stuff and so the girls morph into Ninja Rangers, try to fight them off, and then eventually turns everyone normal by showing them the bill, which comes up pretty high.
Folks may recall that a similar story appeared in the old run from Hamilton Comics and this is more or less the same idea, but a different approach. Again, it’s a brief little story, it’s something I’d actually expect would fit in as an episode of the show, but expanded to include the other stuff. The art is consistent with the style of the other stuff; nothing special. All in all, an okay story.
This series is a flip book that also features a VR Troopers comic on the other side. However, this review (as well as reviews for the rest of the series) will only focus on the Ninja Ranger stories. Fact is that I don’t know much about VR Troopers and I don’t think I can add anything to those stories… not that there’d be much to add if Marvel’s MMPR output has been any indication, but I digress.
Anyway, Marvel’s secondary series focuses on the “Ninja Rangers” a.k.a. the colorful pajamas. Generally speaking, the stories in this series are generally of a higher caliber than the main book, which isn’t saying much, but it’s something worth noting as we head on into this venture.
Case in point; today’s story, where Tommy notices a kid on his basketball team throwing games for loan sharks. Lord Zedd creates actual loan sharks and we get some brief Ninja Ranger action and a lesson learned. Cliche lesson aside, the story is pretty good with its smaller scope and focus, deviating somewhat from the familiar formula by focusing on a Ranger or two.
Marvel’s Power Rangers series ended with this seventh issue and… you know, that’s probably a good thing since I seem to say the same thing regarding these comics over and over again. So it’s not the most auspicious exit around and apparently, Ron Lim had turned in for the rest of the show, so we’ve got Stone Canyon Shakedown, a story written and drawn by Grant Miehiem, which is the Rangers fighting a lava monster… it’s fine. The art is alright, but the Rangers look somewhat blocky. Not quite Romita Jr. blocky, but enough that it’s noticeable. Still, fairly harmless story.
And then, we end this run with Major Munch, written and drawn by Darick Robertson… yes, the guy who brought you THE BOYS wrote and drew a Power Rangers comic strip. Amazingly, it is kid-friendly fare. And even more amazingly, it’s quite fun. A Captain Crunch rip-off thing hypnotizes citizens with his cereal and commercials in a nefarious scheme indeed. Not a bad way to end this series; Tommy’s fist bump morph never became a thing, though.
I’ll leave that to the imagination.
But I did hear the theme song… which sounds pretty… uninspired. It seems like somebody over at Saban thought “Why bother coming up with a new theme song? Let’s just rip the original Go Go Power Rangers song from ages ago and replace the lyric involving Mighty Morphin with Samurai related tripe. PROBLEM SOLVED!” Almost as if the song was an attempt to lure old fans in… kinda like the return of Bulk.
If I get a chance to see the first show, I’ll relay my thoughts. But I certainly hope a revival of Power Rangers doesn’t mean “ripping off the old show” despite the same people being responsible.
Maybe you know something I don’t… we’ll see.
EDIT: Apparently, I somehow thought that the show was debuting this weekend, when in fact it’s airing on a Monday. Oops.
So they managed to snag Paul Schier (sp) to reprise his role as Farcus “Bulk” Bulkmeier in the upcoming Power Rangers Samurai show. Nice touch for the old-school fans; Bulk is pretty much the longest-running character in the Power Rangers franchise, from the very first episode (and pilot episode) to several appearances on Lost Galaxy and even that Forever Red episode. So for anyone looking for that hint of legitimacy and hope that the new series might be on the right track, Bulk’s a pretty good sign.
Bulk, however, isn’t enough to convince me that Power Rangers Samurai is worth following in the long haul. That all depends on the show itself and what it offers. From the few clips and promos I’ve seen of the show, it doesn’t look too bad. I’m actually cautiously optimistic about this one.
We’ll see this weekend, I suppose.
First major positive with this comic; they finally got rid of those annoying sidebars that could’ve gone to more of the cover image. It’s just too bad they started this new format with one of the more awkward group shots ever drawn. What in blazes is ol’ Tommy looking at that’s making his helmet look so sad?
Anyway, we continue with two more stories in the mighty Marvel mold… for whatever that’s worth now. The first story features the Rangers fighting elemental monsters in a story that seems a lot grander in scope, but because of the length of these stories, it’s anything but. Too bad; something like this could’ve been at least a full comic book or two.
The second story features rock monsters kidnapping little kids and the Rangers have to save them. There is nothing I can say about this story beyond it’s average fare in a few pages, but at least Ron Lim is around to supply some consistent art throughout both stories. I might not be a fan of the way he draws the teens (they look like generic Marvel characters instead of people), but for what it’s worth, it’s the best art this run has scene and that has to count for something.
dtm666 