On Wednesday, February 23rd, Power Rangers Universe Issue 3 was released from Boom Studios. A first look of the issue was shown last week.
A mysterious pod crashes on Earth, but the Morphin Master Teens are on the scene to confront whatever dangers it brings from space. While their legendary ranger forms have never made them feel so powerful against the incoming enemy invasion, what happens when their powers begin to fail… and even hurt them?
Host Eric (@trekkieb47) had a chance to read the issue in advance and shares his review:
“Last month, Power Rangers Universe Issue 2 ended with the Morphin Master Teens becoming Power Rangers from across all eras of the franchise. From their perspective, future forms that imbue them with incredible power and arsenals. In this issue, the teens put their newfound knowledge to the test with weapons and moves we are all familiar with to fight the forces of Dark Specter, including a new ‘Spectoid’ General. Fans have suspected for ages, but it is explained in this issue – the teens realize that morphing give them the ability to automatically recall knowledge and skills that the Morphin’ Grid gives them access to. Ori uses a Zeo Spinning Power Punch and Rhian calls upon the Mighty Morphin’ Power Sword.
A lot of lore is also established and connected from across the Power Rangers… well, universe. The Morphin’ Grid being a source of life in the universe is nothing new, it was mentioned in the Power Rangers 2017 movie as well as a major plot point in the Beyond the Grid comic arc. Here, it’s also theorized as a fixed point in space and time. Which again is nothing new when you think of everything that has happened in the tv shows, but here it is clearly spelled out for all audiences new and old.
There’s a nice moment with the teens, a mini-montage that establishes the term ‘Morphin’ Master Squadron. This aligns with the term Super Megaforce used for the DaiRanger suits, which we know are the basis for this team. Later in the issue, Aleia (pink) has a conversation with Ori and ends up sketching the DaiRanger/Squadron logo, which becomes the basis for their rudimentary morphers, a casing that goes over their Morphin Hearts and controls the Grid Energy flowing through them. We get another fight, with all new powers – it’s fun as a fan to see these suits fight together and also feel like a connection to Super Megaforce and the greater lore of the franchise. There’s a great reference to the Sword of Power, used for the first time since Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers ‘The Green Dream’. It’s a little hard to make out in the art, but it looks more like the Sword of Darkness. An odd choice.
Halfway through the series, it only feels like now we are getting to the core of the story with establishing the team. I still have reserves that have carried over from my past two reviews, specifically some of the choices in the artwork. The lettered and drawn sound effects could be toned down to be less distracting. There was also a weird lettering choice that looked like Ori was agreeing to her own statement. Writing wise, I like the smaller moments between the characters when they aren’t expositing the events around them. The Aleia and Ori conversation is a great example of learning more about the character’s personal lives that turned into a solution for the team.
With another three issues to go, Power Rangers Universe has the potential to be fine entry into the comics universe. Hopefully, like the Morphin Teens, the comic can evolve into something truly great.”
POWER RANGERS Universe #3 (3 of 6)
Retail Price: $4.99
Writer: Nicole Andelfinger
Artist: Simone Ragazzoni
Cover Artists:
- Main Cover: Dan Mora
- 1:10 Incentive Cover: Dan Mora
- 1:25 Dark Ranger Incentive Cover: Junggeun Yoon
- 1:50 Negative Space Incentive Cover: Goñi Montes
- 1:100 Incentive Cover: David Nakayama
- FOC Reveal Cover: Jo Mi-Gyeong
- FOC Reveal 1:10 Incentive Cover: Jo Mi-Gyeong
POWER RANGERS UNIVERSE #3 features main cover art by Dan Mora (Once & Future) and variant cover art by illustrators Junggeun Yoon (Moon Knight), Goñi Montes (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Jo Mi-Gyeong (Eve), and David Nakayama (Spider-man).
Currently, Power Rangers is celebrating 29 continuous years on the air, making it one of the longest-running kids’ live-action series in television history, with over 900 episodes aired to date. Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the series will celebrate its 29th overall season in Spring 2022, with season two of “Power Rangers Dino Fury,” airing exclusively on Netflix in the U.S.
Print copies of POWER RANGERS UNIVERSE #3 will be available on February 23, 2022 exclusively at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one), or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle. Readers can purchase Power Rangers Universe HC, collecting the complete six-issue series, at local comic shops on October 12, 2022, and in bookstores everywhere October 18, 2022.
Softcover and hardcover collections of MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, and other Power Rangers releases from BOOM! Studios are available now, everywhere books are sold.
For continuing news on the MIGHTY MORPHIN and POWER RANGERS series and more from BOOM! Studios, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.
For more on Power Rangers, please visit www.powerrangers.com and follow Power Rangers on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
