REVIEW: ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Issue #1

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 is published by BOOM! Studios, written by Ryan Parott, art by Simone de Meo, colors by Walter Baiamonte and Igor Monti, and letters by Ed Dukeshire. Angel Grove’s stalwart defenders are about to collide with New York City’s favorite sewer dwellers. But why are these heroes at each others throats? What diabolical plan is Shredder concocting this time? How many Power Rangers jokes can Mikey crack? This story starts readers down the path to the answers to these, and other questions!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 gives readers exactly what they would expect. Fun action, light hearted comedy, and a touch of high school drama fill the pages of this issue. Parrott’s script feels extremely authentic to its source material. Both the Rangers and Turtles come across just like I remember them from my childhood. Even the small touches like Billy needing to correct inconsequential science points came in right on cue.

While initially all seems like business as usual for our respective hero teams teams things quickly take a turn that sets the groups against each other. Parrott again comes in strong with how he brings the two teams together. While it would be easy enough to just make an enemy draw one team to the other’s home Parrott instead goes for something a bit more subtle. I’m curious to know what exactly is going on behind the scenes of this one. Which wasn’t necessarily something I expected to feel when I picked up this story.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1’s art is excellent. The action throughout the book looks great! The characters feel as if they are about to spring off the page at times. And while plenty of effort is being given to capturing the action on the page this is no means causing a lose of character within the panels.

Firstly I love how di Meo approaches each of the teams. The Rangers look is captured perfectly. The characters proportions are right in line with a normal, fit, human being. This look separates them from the more cartoony design of the Turtles. Di Meo also uses the Rangers body langue to convey their emotions clearly when in costume.

While the Rangers are kept more grounded in their art style di Meo got a bit more creative with how the Turtles were designed. Hard lines, and a greater degree of exaggeration make the Turtles stand out. Their facial expressions also come off extra strong. Almost as if doing double duty for their counterparts hidden behind masks. This works out well as the Turtles have always been larger than life in their responses. Some of their more emotive moments are to die for. Especially, not surprisingly, from Donatello and Michelangelo .

With Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 delivering, lots of action, and laughs, it’s pretty much everything a fan of either franchise could hope for. It’s only hurdle now is to keep this momentum moving forward as the story continues in the months to come.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 is available December 4th wherever comics are sold.