SYNOPSIS
The MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS & the OMEGA RANGERS – along with surprise new allies – versus The Anointed in the conclusion to NECESSARY EVIL! Everything has been leading to the shocking return of a fan favorite character so big that we needed a LAST PAGE GATEFOLD to contain it! But what does it mean now that [SPOILER] is back?
STAFF REVIEW
Spanning a year, 12 issues of Go Go Power Rangers, and 11 issues of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Necessary Evil has outpaced the other comic arcs. This arc has covered so much ground, from Tommy gaining the White Ranger powers, the Power Transfer, a new team of Omega Rangers, an abundance of new villains and subplots… Necessary Evil has widened the scope of the Power Rangers universe.
A necessary evil is the lesser evil when faced with two difficult choices because the alternative choice, or not doing anything, could lead to worse outcomes. What is the “Necessary Evil” in this arc? You can view it from many points.
Jason has to decide between leaving his friends to become an Omega Ranger by lying to them or ignoring his fate and letting the universe tear itself apart.
Tommy goes from being completely powerless to becoming the leader of the Power Rangers. He is inexperienced in this new role and has to learn fast or the Power Rangers and Earth could be destroyed.
Kiya wants to give all of the Empowered and Anointed a chance to be free of the oppressors that want to capture and seclude them. In her eyes, the Power Rangers are harboring a time bomb, Tommy could become Lord Drakkon. A possible future that can circle back and cause the whole Shattered Grid cycle to start again.
And that’s just the big three players in this story. Writers Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace have woven a complex narrative, juggling an impressive amount of characters. For MMPR 50, Parrott not only delivers a hell of an ending but sets up potential stories for years to come.
Artist Daniele di Nicuolo and colorist Walter Baiamonte brought their A+++ game to this issue. We have said so much about their work in the past, but we can’t stop praising them. Personally, I will be following their careers long after Power Rangers. The next artist for MMPR will have some large shoes to fill!
Issue 50 ties in threads from all of the previous arcs in the series, nothing was left off the table and every issue leading up to this point is significant. For the ending to have a great impact, I definitely suggest taking this weekend to reread the entire arc. Let these plots be fresh in your mind when tackling this issue! After a two-month pandemic break, the ending has been hyped (we won’t spoil it here), but the possibilities for drama, confrontation, and great storytelling are wide open going forward.
Over the years, Power Rangers has opened up a vast multiverse beyond the TV show. The comics series has only furthered that, exploring new stories in the framework of the show while expanding the lore. Whatever the next arc deals with, the stakes and consequences seem greater than Shattered Grid. I honestly hope the comics continue for a long time. They have added an incredible amount of depth and nuance to the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers characters and lore.
And that is truly Morphenominal.
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Cover images below.