‘Godzilla vs. the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1’ Review
Written by Cullen Bunn | Art by Freddie Williams II | Published by IDW Comics
I nearly missed this one on the schedules, which would have been a shame. This is one of those books that a few years ago would only have existed in the minds of two fanboys. We had a few years with some odd couple pairings, though do you (want to) remember them? Superman and Tarzan? Batman and Punisher? Predator and, er, Archie Andrews? Well, I do, I’ve still got the lot, for my sins. The appetite for these ran out a while ago, so to see such a great mash-up as this is good news indeed. To be fair to Freddie Williams, he’s usually sniffing around when there’s a good team-up to be had, he’s got a lot of Ninja Turtles, He-Man, and Thundercats in the rear mirror, so this book was a natural. Getting Cullen Bunn to script was just the cherry on top.
We start with Rita Repulsa up to her usual shenanigans, pilfering mysterious temples to see what she can use to make the Rangers life hell. Zordon, though, was ahead of the game and had sent Tommy, the Green Ranger, to keep an eye on things. This is Tommy, of course, and his idea of staying out of sight is to deliver a kick to the face of Goldar. While Goldar, Scorpina, and Finster run interference, Rita deciphers the power of the multiversal gem she has discovered and makes a decision that clearly will not go wrong at all. She resolves to transport herself and her henchmen to a new reality, a new Earth, one without Power Rangers and one easier to conquer and rule. Off they go. They land in Angel Grove, but not ‘their’ Angel Grove. Let’s get conquering. Or not just yet. This Angel Grove has problems of its own, not the least of which is Godzilla locked in combat with a fellow kaiju, with alien observers watching on.
Back to the Rangers reality, and the small case of a destroyed temple and a missing Tommy. Zordon and the other Rangers need to track him down, and Zordon seems to have realised what happened. If he can track Tommy’s energy signature, he can send the Rangers after him. Rita, meanwhile, is busy making friends with the alien leader, the Supreme Controller of Planet X. Well friends might be too strong, but a mutual desire to conquer Earth does tend to bond people I find. Godzilla, it seems, has been standing in the way of their conquest, and Rita thinks she’s just the person to help. Tommy now shows up, having been dragged through with Rita and pals. Mistaking Godzilla for an enemy, he lets Cullen Bunn deliver a real crowd-pleaser.
Godzilla turns to find the Dragonzord preparing to fight. That’s a ridiculously fun thing to write, as I’m sure Bunn will tell you. It’s clearly also a ridiculously fun thing to draw, as Williams really lets loose on the next few pages. Widescreen action galore, as panels are filled to the brim with action and destruction. Godzilla’s full-page takedown of the Dragonzord is pretty spectacular. Tommy’s big gambit has failed. Can the Green Ranger take down Godzilla by himself. Nah.
Luckily, we get the final page splash we deserve. Five more Power Rangers have arrived, and you know what that means…
Dinozord power. Oh yes.
Let’s be honest, all we are really looking for with these books is a whole lot of fan service, and that’s exactly what we got here. Straightforward plot, a little exposition, but mainly good guys fighting bad guys fighting massive forces of nature. Bunn and Williams give you what you want. It is of, course, all tremendous fun and impossible not to enjoy. I could only enjoy it more if Godzuki shows up.
Simply Morphinomenal Gojira action.
