BOOM!; $3.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #5 leaves the regular narrative to travel back to one month before Tommy came to Angel Grove. The Power Rangers are called to Italy where Rita has unleashed a monster to kill the Prime Minister. But after the Rangers save the day one gets all the glory while another was the actual hero. Rita sees a chance to enact her plan to turn one of the Rangers to her side.

Written by Kyle Higgins, this was a very good issue. It’s a fresh story, not only because it provides unknown background material to the regular narrative, but because it puts the spotlight on another Ranger. So far the story has been focused on Tommy and Jason, so seeing someone else at the center was nice. Once again it also proves why we love the Power Rangers – not only do they fight for good in costume, but they are strong of moral character when things get difficult.

The art by Thony Silas is slick, detailed, and expressive. Rita is unsettlingly devious and manipulative, the panel structure is fun, and the action is energetic. Bryan Valenza’s colors contrast well between the bright and vivid to the dark and broody.

In The Ongoing Adventures of Bulk & Skull written by Steve Orlando with art by Corin Howell and colors by Jeremy Lawson, the duo find themselves in front of a judge who is perplexed by the logic behind their shenanigans. He orders them to community service overseen by a certain police lieutenant they already know.

-Amanda Sheriff