Happy Monday! To kick off the week I got a new batch of comic book reviews. For this wrap-up I am checking out Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 and Power Rangers #17. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is a story I’ve been excited to read as it looks to fall right in the wheelhouse that Mark Waid is best at with what will likely be great artwork by Dan Mora. For Power Rangers #17, this issue sees Ryan Parrott and Marco Renna dealing with what the fallout of The Eltarian War crossover event means to the Omega Rangers future. Let’s take a look at how these two comic books turned out.
In case you missed it reviews with full spoiler synopsis for Nightwing #90 and Wonder Woman #785 are also live that you can check out.
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST #1
Creative Team
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Review
Making the latest Batman and Superman team-up crossover another series that takes place in its own Elseworld is the best choice for this comic book. Trying to work within the parameters of current continuity has felt constraining for Batman/Superman many times when reading it in the past. Going with an approach for Batman/Superman: World’s Finest where this universe exist in the present day a few years after the original Dynamic Duo of Bruce Wayne’s Batman and Dick Grayson’s Robin are already formed was refreshing. It gave all the characters an updated feel while still maintaining many classic elements of both characters worlds that are iconic.
The setting is even more fitting for Mark Waid as he is just able to go in on just delivering fun stories and dialogue. He clearly loves writing these early days of Batman and Superman as he was able to modernize both characters along with other supporting characters and villains in fun ways. Though the only thing that does keep Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 back is that it does have an unfocused structure at times. The things going on in the present day were certainly where Waid excelled with his writing. That includes the surprising cameo of the Doom Patrol that fit right into the story being told.
But where Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 is truly a home run is Dan Mora’s excellent artwork. Mora is one of the best artists in the industry and his work on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1 is an example of why. His character designs for Batman, Superman, Robin, Poison Ivy, Doom Patrol, and everyone else is top notch. The action is all very fluid with the coloring by Tamra Bonvillain adding to how every character just pops right out of every panel and page.
If you are a fan of either Batman or Superman than you should not miss out on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #1. Waid and Mora are on a mission to deliver a fun Batman and Superman team-up story. If this first issue is any indication of the quality they will hit than they will absolutely be successful in what they are setting out to do with Batman/Superman: World’s Finest.
POWER RANGERS #17
Creative Team
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Marco Renna
Colorists: Walter Baiamonte, Sharon Marino, and Sara Antonellini
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Review
Now that Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers have different creative teams you can see how approach to developing a team really matters. With Power Rangers continuing to star Jason Scott, Trini Kwan, and Zack Taylor as the series leads Ryan Parrott spends time with them individually to showcase where each one is at post The Eltarian War. This was the right approach after a big event as it allowed the characters to be at the forefront of Power Rangers #17.
Getting the Omega Rangers back to Safehaven right after The Eltarian War showed the team, especially Zack, that life did not stop while they were stopping the Eltarians and Empyreals on Earth. This an important tone to set as the Omega Rangers are going to continue to be involved with the greater developments within the Power Rangers Universe.
Being given this perspective it made Jason, Trini, and Zack’s joint choice to make a big announcement to many planets in the universe that the Omega Rangers are there to help those in need a major moment for the team. This was both an announcement for people on various planets to know they have the Omega Rangers looking out for them and a warning to villains like Lord Drakkon that they won’t be allowed to reign terror on the universe freely. It all set the stage for multiple possible directions for Power Rangers to take as Parrott continues to tap into the various parts of the franchise’s mythology.
Marco Renna also steps up to create the consistency on the art side of things that Power Rangers is known for. The different settings that Jason, Trini, and Zack are each in during Power Rangers #17 allowed Renna to play with how each scene had its own tone based on where each character was. This made the entire story feel bigger as there were multiple things going on at the same time.
Overall, Parrott and Renna did a great job dealing with the fallout of The Eltarian War and pushing the Omega Rangers forward with the developments in Power Rangers #17. There are so many different directions that Power Rangers can go and that creates genuine excitement for what happens next with the Omega Rangers.