It's annual time!
Kyle Higgins and Co. have had quite a bit of fun since the Power Rangers came to BOOM! Studios - so much so that they've invited some friends to join the party. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Annual #1 is a darn near perfect representation of what makes the teens with attitude so resonant, it's collection of highly entertaining stories mostly making up for the issue's high price point.
To start with the obvious - even with the collection of content offered here, $7.99 is an awful lot of scratch for an annual. What gives the buck it's bang, ultimately, isn't the amount of story here, but rather it's diversity. This first annual is chock full of unique content, with stories ranging from serious and relatable to wild and irreverent. And even better, it all works, each diverse chapter perfectly encapsulating the qualities that continue to appeal to fans new and old. It also helps that it's not all filler - oftentimes annuals are viewed as non-essential in nature, attached to the respective flagship but not necessarily adding to it. While this annual mostly adheres to that same approach, some stories - such as Goldar's origin tale - offer unique perspectives that actually shape characters in significant ways.
Such layered characterization isn't the norm, but that doesn't make the rest of the annual any less enjoyable. The host of talent collected here offers a little something for everyone, and really there isn't a bad chapter in the bunch. Higgins gets the ball rolling early, teaming with the excellent Rod Reis for an "in the life" character profile following Red Ranger, Jason. It's an amusing, and at times surprisingly relatable, look at the kind of toil being a Power Ranger can have on a teen. Schoolwork, family, a social life that doesn't involve skyscraper-sized monsters - these are things rarely, if ever, touched on in the main series. That same focus is presented in a different light in the book's closing chapter, with Jorge Corona showcasing the Rangers as heroes with or without their matching jumpsuits. In both, the focus on the impact they have in their civilian lives reads just as important as anything they do powered up, a trend we're sure to see more of in the primary title.
Of course, the majority of the chapters look to be nothing more than good, clean fun. Marguerite Bennett and Huang Danlan offer a light, environmentally focused team up between Kimberly and Trini, and James Kochalka turns in the most unlikely love story of all time via the newest student of Angel Grove High. For our money though, nothing tops the Bulk and Skull centric chapter from the hilarious duo of Ross Thibodeaux and Rob Guillory. If you've ever wanted to see how the dimwitted duo would handle the rigors of Rangering (be honest, you have), this is the book for you.
Despite the admittedly heavy price tag, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Annual #1 has a lot going for it. It's diverse, clever, and has enough unique elements to appeal to readers of all interests. It's not quite required reading, but it's consistently entertaining. And really, that's all that counts.
The Verdict
As far as annuals go this one offers up a little bit of everything for everyone. From canon building backstory to amusing what-ifs, the great collection of talent here results in some quality entertainment. Now if only it didn't cost so much.
Editors' Choice
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