Teleportation may be cliche, but it’s forgiven with results like this.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Tom Taylor
Art: Stephen Byrne
Color: Stephen Byrne
Letterer: Deron Bennett
What They Say:
Two of comics greatest teams team up for the very first time! Something terrible has happened in Angel Grove! When the Command Center is breached and the teleporters are damaged, Zack is flung into another universe, where he’s mistaken for a villain by a mysterious, masked vigilante. Can the other Power Rangers get to their friend in time to save him from Batman?
Content: (Warning: content section may contain spoilers)
The Justice League meet the Power Rangers as new schemes begin! The opening scene, 36 hourse from where we truly start, shows a gaping crater where Angel Grove once stood. The Rangers stare at the crater, and Zack, the Black Ranger, believes it’s his fault. Superman assures Zack that it isn’t and that they know who the real culprit was. Going back to the beginning, Zack teleports into the Rangers’ command center. He’s just lost an argument with his parents about disappearing a lot, but more pressing matters pop up. Alpha Five, Zordon’s Robot assistant, has gone missing. Zack finds what appears to be Alpha and he returns return to base. Zordon immediately realizes something is wrong, but before Zack can carry out any command. Alpha blows up, knocking ack out and damaging the teleporter. When Zack regains consciousness, Lord Zedd and his minions have breached the command center. Zedd easily knocks Zack around, but Zack, ignoring Zordon’s warnings, activates the teleporters to send Zedd away (with him as an unintended guest). The other Rangers arrive to fight the Putty army Zedd left behind, but they’re too late otherwise.
As Zordon tries to explain what happened to the other Rangers, Zack, in his Black Ranger garb, finds himself fighting some putties on the streets of what turns out to be Gotham City! Batman approaches Zack, seeing that the boy seems disoriented and injured, but Zack, thinking he’s still in Angel Grove, attacks. Batman holds his own until the other Power Rangers arrive. The first to respond to Batman’s call for aid is the Flash, who quickly de-weaponizes the Rangers. Zack refuses to leave until Zedd is dealt with, so the Power Rangers need to stay in the DC Universe until Zedd can be found, and Kimberly, the Pink Ranger uses her Pterodactyl Dinozord to take Batman and his car out of commission. Our issue ends as Kimberly’s Dinozord flies off with the Batmobile, and Flash contacts the League Watchtower to summon the big leagues.
In Summary:
What a way to start a crossover! Sure, the whole “damaged teleporter” thing may be cliche, but dang if it doesn’t lead to the beginning of a great crossover. Lord Zedd is somewhere in the DCU, and the Power Rangers can’t leave until they can be sure Zedd can’t menace this universe. It’s interesting to note that this initial conflict, while really cool, is a misunderstanding. Batman never intended to fight Zack or the other rangers, but Zack thought Batman was with Zedd, and the other rangers only saw Batman fighting Zack. The Flash’s timely aid stopped the Rangers from just overwhelming Batman, this battle is far from over. The very beginning, where we see what will eventually happen to Angel Grove shows us that whoever the villain is at that point is not messing around, and Zack’s argument with his parents may be important as it is brought up twice this issue. The Alpha Five clone bomb was a clever ruse on Lord Zedd’s part, and it got him closer to defeating his rivals then he has ever been. Speaking of that, the characters in the issue are written amazingly and every character looks and acts the way one would expect them to. The action is fast paced and fun, and the dialogue flows well. The art is done well, and it looks great. Tom Taylor, the writer, is to be commended for bringing these two properties together so well, and in such spectacular and foreboding fashion. What happens to Angel Grove, Can the Power Rangers and the Justice League work together? This is a book I would most certainly recommend if you’re a fan of either property or like crossovers. It’s a great start to this event, and i’m sure things will only get more interesting as tie goes on! There weren’t really any flaws besides the whole cliche teleporter ordeal, so if you see this, I’d say pick it up! It won’t disappoint!
Grade: A
Released By: DC Comics, Boom Studios
Release Date: January 11th, 2017
MSRP: $3.99
