The Darkest Timeline comes to a close.
Recent origin asides and yearly annuals notwithstanding, it’s been a while since we’ve last seen the Rangers proper. BOOM!’s flagship title at last returns to finish what it started, Kyle Higgins and Hendry Prasetya bringing their latest arc to its explosive conclusion.
While technically broken up, the connective nature of the book’s last few arcs makes it feel like the Rangers have been dealing with the one singular conflict for quite some time. Writer Higgins has certainly made the most of that long-form approach, with a detailed attention to world building and some strong character development, yet there was the feeling going into this final stretch that there was just too much to bring it all together. Thankfully, that’s not the case. He mirrors the final standoff with Lord Drakkon to the attack by Rita Repulsa darn near perfectly, his stakes real and his character moments earned. With a split narrative and a slew of similar (or identical) characters dotting multiple timelines, the risk of the plot devolving into a jumbled mess was high. And yet, by keeping the focus squarely on the well-known traits that define his core cast, Higgins is able to bring his finale together with only a few bumps and bruises.
His way of doing so has its moments of convenience, with plenty of spoken declarations used to bridge less obvious resolutions, but for the most part this issue thrives on its excellent characterization. Even better, Higgins spreads the wealth this time around. Billy and Trini have been shortchanged for the majority of this series, but the last few issues have really allowed them to take center stage. And despite the late return of arguably more popular characters such as Jason and Kimberly, Higgins sees his character arcs through, the resulting resolution adding a great deal to both characters. That focus, of course, extends to Tommy as well, with both versions of the Green Ranger seeing ample page time. Where earlier uses of Tommy felt largely shoehorned into the series’ various machinations, Higgins really does a great job of exploring the two sides of the same (dragon) coin here. More than a cut and paste, good versus evil comparison, Higgins allows for a similarity between the two that serves to highlight the impact their divergent choices carry. Even Tommy’s ending soliloquy, while a touch cheesy, rings true to the character arc Higgins has charted here.
Of course, none of these strong character moments would work nearly as well without the equally impressive contributions of Hendry Prasetya and Matt Herms. We’ve long trumpeted Prasetya’s ability to sell an invigorating Ranger sequence, but he’s able to do the same here with the more civilian-centric scenes as well. Facial expression hasn’t typically been his strongest suit, but here the artist dials in in a way that allows the book’s fluctuating emotional tone to shine through. That visual register in only furthered by Herms’ equally evocative hues. Saving the more vibrant colors for the Rangers’ uniforms and Zords, Herms’ palette sees a nice transition from oppressive and bleak to triumphant and hopeful. It’s a true marriage between pencils and color, and one that elevates Higgins’ script in the best possible way.
While not without its imperfections, issue #16 makes for a strong capper to an equally strong arc. Kyle Higgins sees his various character arcs to their full resolutions, his attention to detail and development resulting in many well-earned moments. Hendry Prasetya and Matt Herms deliver on a similarly well-rounded level, the book’s art equal parts exciting and triumphant.
The Verdict
Following months of setup, Kyle Higgins and Hendry Prasetya at last bring their Lord Drakkon arc to its dramatic conclusion. The many swirling plot points of the issue threaten to overwhelm at times, but Higgins keeps things intact with a strong and well developed focus on character. Prasetya helps drive the many standout moments home with his great eye for detail and an improved attention to facial nuance. One of the book's stronger arcs to date, the future is bright for this title.
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