Review of BOOM! Studios Pink Ranger Issue 01

The Power of Pink is alive and well in this brand new mini-series from BOOM! Studios featuring the original Pink Ranger (hence the title!). The book, released this week, starts a brand new mini-series that follows the adventures of Kimberly Hart, better known to fans as the original Pink Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Please click “Read More” to read our full review of Pink Ranger Issue 01 including some of the art within! Special thanks to BOOM! Studios for the advance look at this first issue of what is sure to be an exciting series!! Beware – this review contains SPOILERS!

Be sure to pick up your copy of Pink Ranger Issue 01 available at many comic stores and online through such services as Comixology. But please consider supporting your local comic book store!

In a rather surprising twist, the story follows Kim after she’s already transferred her Power Coin to Katherine, meaning she is no longer a Power Ranger and the story takes places in the latter part of the third season of the television show (if you’re trying to place it within a timeline). Kim is at the Pan Global Games and rather upset that her mother and step-father have yet to show up to witness the competition. Unnerved by their silence (they haven’t even called), Kim decides to take her motorcycle to her parents’ new home in France.

Don’t worry – the motorcycle and leather jacket are (somewhat) explained.

When Kim arrives at the small town in France, the entire village seems to be a ghost town. She is uneasy and begins to investigate – but after she grabs her bow and arrow (that one is NOT explained), some pads, and some leather gloves (think Jen in the Time Force/Wild Force crossover episodes). She discovers strange lizard people attempting to grab a civilian. She rushes in to fight and manages to scare them off. The man she saves is named Serge and he explains that everyone from the village is missing and those that attempt to run or call for help are the first to disappear.

Kim then reveals to the audience that when she left the Power Rangers, Zordon gave her a modified communicator to use in case of emergencies. She uses it in hopes that Zordon can send the Power Rangers to help the people of the town. Unfortunately, the Power Rangers are out somewhere in the universe fighting Lord Zedd and have not been in touch with Zordon for some time. Alpha 5 and Zordon then reveal that because Kim never used the Sword of Light (famously known in the multi-part episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers that allowed Jason, Zack, and Trini to transfer their powers to Rocky, Adam, and Aisha…and was never seen or spoken of again) there is still dormant Pink Power left within her.

Zordon then teleports the Sword of Light to Kim and uses his power to activate it as well as the Pink Power within her, transforming her in to a NEW version of the Pink Ranger. This version has the same helmet as the original but a new, more modern looking suit that differentiates it from the original.

With her powers restored, Kim rushes off to the cliffs where Serge believes the civilians have been taken. As she investigates and knocks out some lizard people, she hears an all too familiar voice – Goldar! And right next to him is Kim’s mother – but Goldar hasn’t yet realized that Kim is the Pink Ranger as he vocalizes his disappointment that Kim did not show up to help her mother. But when Kim cries out for Goldar to stop, her mother recognizes her voice … as a creature named Verto turns Kim’s mom in to a lizard person.

What is Goldar’s plan? Who is Verto and where did these lizard people come from? And will this new version of the Pink Ranger be able to save the day? Find out in issue 02 of the Pink Ranger mini-series!

Thoughts on the Story

I was quite surprised to see them going the route of looking at Kim’s life after she left being a Power Ranger as opposed to just some one-off side story when she was already a Ranger. This expands the Power Rangers Universe a little bit more which is always a good thing. Her reasoning for her motorcycle and the leather jacket (missing the Shark Cycles and Tommy) was a neat touch – although I’m still curious why she would carry around a bow and arrow set (I get it, no seriously I get why they gave her one, but it doesn’t necessarily makes sense as to why she would carry one around all willy nilly like).

I really enjoyed how they gave Kim back her powers and it makes total sense – she simply gave up her Power Coin but no one really knows if that’s literally all it takes to give up the power. Thanks to this issue, we know that it’s not, and an intergalactic being like Zordon can pull it back out of dormancy with plot device objects like the Sword of Light.

Let’s talk about the Sword of Light. I was thrilled to see it return especially since a multi-part episode was based around it back in the television show only to then never ever mention it ever again in the history of ever no matter how many times it probably would have fit the story. Kudos to Brenden Fletcher and Kelly Thompson – it’s beyond obvious that some research went in to this story, more so than a quick Wikipedia reference check.

As for the lizard people? Not quite sure where this is going. I think it would be beyond awesome to somehow incorporate a new Green Ranger type power (because dragons and lizards and lizard people) yet at the same time I’m hoping maybe not. I am very anxious to see what other nods the writers have planned for the remainder of this series as this first issue made it a point to let you know that they paid attention to details that other writers in previous attempts to write Power Rangers did not (looking at you, Papercutz).

Thoughts on the Art

Daniele Di Nicuolo’s artwork is pretty spectacular. Again, there are a lot of sharp edges (like with what you see in the on-going Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), but it works. Where his art really shines is in the fight scenes and action shots – he has the ability to capture that “oomph” essence during fight scenes. The art, overall, is visually appealing and manages to capture the correct mood that the story is trying to set.

Overall Conclusion of Pink Ranger Issue 01

I was a little skeptic going in to the book because, let’s face it, Power Rangers isn’t necessarily known for showcasing their female characters in a strong, independent light. However, I am happy to share with you that Brenden Fletcher, Kelly Thompson, and the editorial team didn’t make this story about Kimberly shopping and having some monster ruin her shopping experience.

Instead we see a story of a former hero coming to grips with their lack of ability to do anything about a situation, only to rise up and fight regardless, which allows them to become the hero once again. And it just so happens that the hero this time is a female – the Pink Ranger.

Congratulations BOOM! Studios – once again you’ve hit it out of the park. Power Rangers is relevant again in today’s pop culture thanks to the $100 million dollar Lionsgate movie – and BOOM! Studios has done a tremendous job in making them one of the more enjoyable comics out on the market today. Where other comic companies seem to be going for shock factor tactics to get readers to buy the book (hail Hydra anyone?), BOOM! Studios is focused on telling good stories and expanding a universe. Marvel, DC, and even IDW Publishing could take a page out of their book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a FUN story that expands on your childhood memories of the show. While written for fans of the show (Sword of Light, etc.), the story does a good job of explaining the situation leading up to this event in an inner monologue by Kimberly – meaning you’re not missing out on anything if you haven’t watched (or don’t remember) the show.

Just one question if anyone from BOOM! Studios is reading – is Serge the guy that Kimberly leaves Tommy for during Power Rangers Zeo? (You know, the guy she met at the games in her “Dear John” letter during the first half of Power Rangers Zeo). See you next time comic fans!