Jordan Jones reviews Go Go Power Rangers #3…
“They put everything together knowing you will simply knock it back down…”
That line perfectly encapsulates issue #3 of BOOM! Studios’ Go Go Power Rangers. An issue that didn’t move the plot in a big way, but was full of wonderful character moments, and whip-smart dialogue.
Where the OG comic series is already dealing with alternate timelines, and seems to have introduced every Zord under the sun already, Go Go Power Rangers is too busy asking the important questions like: “Would you pay $2,000 for a date with the Yellow Ranger?”. Go Go Power Rangers continues to separate itself from the other series by focusing on what happens on behind the scenes.
The issue starts with a great flashback between Billy and childhood friend Eugene fighting “Space Pirates” on the playground. The really fun part here is that we know, 6 years in the future, that this is what Billy actually does now. It really drives the point home that being a Power Ranger is like a childhood dream come true. In a way, Billy is all of us growing up with the series, fighting pretend putties and thinking about how cool it would be to become a real Power Ranger.
Overall, this issue focuses on “Arrival Day” from the ground floor. It’s important to remember that, even by issue #3, it still hasn’t been that long before Rita Repulsa’s minions touched down on earth, and Goldar was struck down by the Megazord. The community of Angel Grove is still reeling, and coping in different ways. We see the effects that this event has had on individuals, but also businesses. Where the TV series, and many other adaptations cleanly sweep up the damage following each fight, this series really does a nice job conveying just how catastrophic these fights can be. So much so, that Trini decided to create an entire day dedicated to cleaning up the city, called “Angel Day”, where we find most of the action this issue.
Artist Dan Mora deserves a lot of credit for infusing each character with a wealth of emotion from panel to panel. It really helps to give a well-rounded feel to everyone, and in just a few panels I feel like I know who these kids are. One of my favorite moments this issue is when the Rangers tried to throw non-Ranger friend Matthew Cooke off the scent, Billy deftly mentions that they were talking about “boobs”, and the faces following that moment don’t need dialogue to help us understand just how mortified everyone is. Matt’s facing away from them, talking, yet I was much more engaged in the characters behind him, all in various states of embarrassment. Simply put: these Rangers “ooze” character (pun all the way from 1995 intended).
The action was pretty light this week, but what’s there is a lot of fun. Of course, things don’t stay safe in Angel Grove for long and Trini’s “Angel Day” had literal angels falling from the sky in the form of putties. Now, this is where all of that focus on character really pays off. The Rangers are separated. Jason is stuck indoors with the principal, having been punished for defending Billy, while Kimberly is off with her boyfriend Matthew Cooke. The dilemma there being: “How can I transform right next to him if he’s not supposed to know I’m a Ranger”? In the meantime, Matthew tries to play the hero, protecting her, and getting hurt in the process. It’s an interesting character moment for Kim. We know that she’s on shaky terms with Matt, after all. Does she let him play the hero? Does she tell him? In the end, there isn’t enough time to have that decision. These moments give surprising depth to what used to be pretty cheesy fights.
If I had only one criticism this issue, it’s that it feels like the first of a two-parter. It feels rather short, and ends just when things are getting good. Then again, the action is not really what’s important with this series.
Overall, another great issue to a really solid series. We get some fun character moments in this one, and also are able to see the effects that these large-scale fights have on the community of Angel Grove. If it felt a bit anti-climactic in the end, the issue still left me with a big smile on my face. Something this series has tended to do.
Rating: 8/10
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