Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
Written by Ryan Parrott
Art by Simone di Meo, Walter Baiamonte and Igor Monti
Published by BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing
Released December 4th, 2019
The Power Rangers arrive in New York City to find Tommy Oliver (a.k.a. The Green Ranger) but soon discover he’s joined forces with the villainous Shredder and the Foot Clan! As the Rangers are sent reeling by this betrayal, they ‘re confronted by another (fr)enemy… the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Can these heroes find a way to work together to defeat the bad guys and save the world from total destruction?!
It’s a 90s date made in heaven! No, I’m not talking about Saved By The Bell meets Goosebumps (though I might have to copyright that idea) it’s our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meeting the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers! And I assure you when this was announced eight year old me would’ve choked on my Dunkaroos. But is the first chapter worth your sheckles? Let’s check out issue one in this five issue series!
On the storytelling side of this issue Ryan Parrott hits a homerun. It very much feels like a lost episode of the Power Rangers rather than the Ninja Turtles (this is a personally feeling) but it works for the issue in a great way. What I really dig is that there is no realm jumping or portal hopping for our heroes to come together ala’ the Batman/TMNT series. Angel Grove and New York City exist in the same universe. And the TMNT and MMPR are just a plane ride away from each other. The classic Power Rangers wit and feel are there with the idea of tying these two franchises together: Tommy Oliver joining The Foot Clan. Ingenious and clever. I am so in, dudes and dudettes.
The artwork of Simone di Meo, Walter Baiamonte and Igor Monti also fits this series beautifully. As a TMNT fan, it’s a great change of style from Santolouco or Wachter (no offense of course). Di Meo already adds so much fluid life as the main artist for Boom! Studio’s MMPR title, and his rendition of the TMNT already feel like a great fit.
Having two nostalgic powerhouses like the Power Rangers and TMNT come together is already an insta-buy and attention grabber for a lot of people, but what’s important for comics is the writing and artwork (duh.) And, with this first issue alone, Ryan Parrott and Simone di Meo coming together make this debut as mighty and powerful as it can be. With beautiful artwork and sharp writing, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 debuts with a promising and entertaining story of fun, fights, and fanfare for diehard fans and new ones alike. It’s Mighty Morphin’ Mutant Time, Dudes!
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 is now available wherever comics are sold!
