REVIEW: ‘Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness,’ Issue #1

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness #1 is written by Frank Gogol, illustrated by Simone Ragazzoni, colored by Igor Monti with assistance by Sabrina del Grosso, and lettered by Ed Dukeshire. It is published by BOOM! Studios. Years ago, the mysterious Phantom Ranger was sent on a rescue mission by Zordon to save the sorceress Lady Fienna and her daughter Rita from a mad cult of Tengu warriors. The Tengu cult is in the service of Fienna’s husband, Master Vile, who seeks to use Rita as a portal to summon the dreaded Dark Specter from his home dimension.

In the same vein as Power Rangers Unlimited: Heir To Darkness, Edge of Darkness focuses on another corner of the Power Rangers mythos, namely the Phantom Ranger. The Phantom Ranger has been shrouded in mystery ever since his first appearance on Power Rangers Turbo, with fans speculating about his true identity over the years. In Edge of Darkness, that origin is finally revealed, and while I personally never expected it, it honestly makes a lot of sense. Gogol also writes the Phantom Ranger as doggedly determined to complete the missions that Zordon gives him; he doesn’t care if he dies in the process.

This serves as a contrast to Fienna and Rita, who work to keep their mysterious protector alive after he suffers a near-fatal wound. Power Rangers fans will undoubtedly know that Rita is in for a darker destiny, yet it’s still refreshing to see a younger version of herself who hasn’t lost her innocence. And Dark Specter continues to play a role as the greatest evil in the universe-a role that he would more than live up to in Power Rangers In Space. I love that Gogol is willing to tackle other elements of Power Rangers lore in this one-shot; it helps the comic book universe feel more expansive and full of possibilities.

Gogol is joined by Ragazzoni, who previously illustrated another Rangers tale in Power Rangers: Drakkon New Dawn. In Edge of Darkness, Ragazzoni pushes his art to the next level, especially when it comes to the environment. The planet the Phantom Ranger finds Fienna and Rita on is full of lush and multicolored vegetation. The Phantom Ranger’s ship is a vast yet coldly sterile environment, which aligns with its pilot’s personality. Combined with Monti and del Grosso’s rich colors, these backgrounds only add to the vastness of the Power Rangers universe. Even the

Ragazzoni and the colorists also knock the fight scenes out of the park. The Phantom Ranger first springs into action against the Tengu, using his cloaking ability to render himself virtually invisible and his twin blasters to gun them down (and thanks to Monti and del Grosso, it actually LOOKS like he’s invisible, which is a neat touch.) The Tengu themselves are utterly terrifying, with their wrinkled beaks and blood-red eyes; Dukeshire adds to the horror by placing jagged purple “CAW!” noises whenever they take flight. It gets even worse when their leader gets a massive power-up that gives him an edge over the Phantom Ranger.

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness #1 expands upon the origins of several characters in the Power Rangers mythos, hinting at a larger story to unfold in the main Power Rangers titles. Anyone who is a fan of the Zordon Era of Power Rangers, or wants to know what exactly the deal is with the Phantom Ranger, should check it out.

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.