Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #5 (boom! Studios/idw publishing)
Credit: BOOM! Studios/IDW Publishing
The end has come the latest crossover between two pop culture squads that know a thing or two about bringing the action.
Super Zedd and his mutant rangers are on the cusp of total victory. The combined forces of the Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have struggled in this fight.
With a little divine intervention from Usagi Yojimbo, the good guys rallied for a comeback. Even Master Splinter came back as the White Ranger to spark some home.
It failed to defer the onslaught. The Command Center was destroyed and with it, Zordon is presumed dead. There is no time to greive. Only time to fight.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #5 by Ryan Parrott, Vincenzo Federici, Jodi Nishijima, Joana Lafuente, Raúl Angulo and Ed Dukeshire (BOOM! Studios/IDW PUBLISHING) drops its’ epic finale!
Let’s see how this all wraps up.
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
WRITING:
Parrott pulls out all the stops for this conclusion. Coming off the heels of “losing” Zordon, the mood is somber as the world prepares for what’s next. Fears are short lived as The Rangers mentor returns in a very clever way. Knowing what he means to this story, having him eliminated prior wouldn’t have the big payoff fans are waiting on.
The remainder of the issue goes into full action mode. A battle royal of ‘zords and monsters flood the streets to much delight. The writing shows the Turtles adapting fast to their new situation. Pacing picks up to match the frantic combat at hand. It provides a solid complement to the more personal duels taking place. Parrott dials in on Shreddar vs. Splinter and Zordon vs. Zedd for the drama. It results in a strong finish. The fallout completes loose ends before bidding goodbye for this go-around. Overall, a great conclusion.
ARTWORK:
The art teams bring the action on this final run. Tommy’s acceptance of Zordon’s doom is quickly upended by his new armor. The half page image signals the wait is over to finish this. A more subtle panel brings the ‘zords to the streets. This leads to a massive two-age spread that feels right out of a monster movie This is a busy piece as there’s much happening here. Readers don’t have a minute to pause as the combat swings fast in the next location.
The Technodrome standoff provides a heated situation as the elders of the group attack. There are very little punches held back as panels flood with fighting. This is a high bar set for the finale. Ultimately, it comes down to Splinter and Shreddar’s fight as the show stopper. Knowing their history, this transcends a normal encounter. Once events go for the last strike, the mood immediately starts receding to a calm state. It almost feels too quick of a finish. One other element enters the picture to end the city brawl once and for all. A series of half panels sets the stage for this hammer to drop. Once in the epilogue, the panels give proper closure to each storyline. One last full page stamps the story closed until a possible next round.
Final Thoughts:
For the Power Rangers and TMNT squads, they have one chance. Will they lock it in or let it drop away to Zedd and company? Parrott goes all in with their last stand via a great script. The art teams construct the emotional throwdowns fans have been waiting for. Fans won’t be disappointed in how these titans finish their latest joint adventure.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
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