Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Volume 1: Rita Repulsa’s Attitude Adjustment

Papercutz takes the Power Rangers back to their origins, to the first series that started it all. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers members Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Trina and Zack return in all new adventures to stop the evil deeds of the sorceress Rita Repulsa and her loyal minions with the help of the heroic sage Zordon and his wisecracking robotic sidekick Alpha-5. It’s Morphin Time!

Review: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Volume 1: Rita Repulsa’s Attitude Adjustment
Written by Stefan Petrucha; Illustrated by PH Marcondes
All Ages
Papercutz; June 2014. ISBN: 9781597076968
63 pgs; $7.99

It’s been 20 years since Saban first brought the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers to US televisions on FOX, and now Papercutz brings back the original team in comics form. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers became the first of 16 different teams who fought the forces of evil with their combining zords, giving a whole generation a new kind of superhero to look up to.

An archeological dig in the desert near Angel Grove has unearthed a giant stone statue that turns out to be more than it seems. An accidental activation send the ancient robot on a rampage. The Power Rangers arrive to try and stop it, only to have their zords disassembled and their even their uniforms mixed up. Rita Repulsa takes advantage of the situation and tries to use the robot to her advantage, but the Power Rangers take their disadvantage and turn it to their advantage to stop both the robot and Rita, and save the day.

If you ever watched the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, then this story will feel very familiar. It feels like an episode of the show, from Skull’s and Bulk’s pathetic attempts at looking cool, to the kids acting like cowards to keep anyone from thinking they really are the Power Rangers. The parent-friendly message is even in there, spelled out at the beginning by a smaller kid that beats Bulk and Skull at basketball.

There is plenty of action, as the story gets things moving and the kids in their zords to stop the stone robot. Once Rita joins in, there are plenty of putties to put down, especially after Alpha-5 pitches in to help with the stone robot. The story itself is entertaining, and there is never really a moment where nothing happens. Bulk and Skull still get their comedy relief bits in, and while the kids are mostly serious, they have their moments of one-liners.

The art is well done. The characters look like their real-life counterparts. The action scenes flow well, and although the use of speedlines might seem a bit overused, they work well for this series and genre. Colorist Laurie Smith’s work is spot on with the rangers, and these are some nice palette choices to liven up the otherwise monochrome desert.

I was never a fan of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I wasn’t the target audience by any means. I remember watching the first episode after moving into my first apartment. But I do see the appeal for kids, especially having had and raised my own. This new comic series of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers will appeal to both the adults who remember the show fondly and to the kids they are now raising.

Filed under: Graphic Novels