Ranger Academy #12 marks the finale of this maxi-series. This is the final Power Rangers comic book before we enter the new era for the franchise with Power Rangers Prime #1 next week. This series has been unique in the BOOM! Studios era as we’ve had a brand-new cast exploring elements from this version of the Power Rangers Universe. We got the chance to check out an early copy of the final issue of the series. Find out how it turned out with our advance review of Ranger Academy #12
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Maria Ingrande Mora
Artist: Jo Mi-Gyeong
Colorist: Joana Lafuente
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
RANGER ACADEMY #12 SOLICITATION
“As Dark Specter takes possession of a key figure, the final battle for the fate of Ranger Academy commences! When Sage’s father falls into peril, Sage can’t help but put herself between him and annihilation, but she can’t save him and all of Ranger Academy alone…” – BOOM! Studios
REVIEW
Ranger Academy #12 is the closest episode to the TV series that we’ve had from BOOM! Studios Power Rangers comic line. Specifically, reading this came across like what we see go down in the final episode of a Power Rangers series. In comic book form that is refreshing to see be implemented to help differentiate this finale from it from its other BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers counterpart series.
Given that the endgame threat turned out to be the same as the most recent Mighty Morphin Power Rangers there needed to be something different with how this version of Dark Specter was fought. That is where Maria Ingrande Mora and Jo Mi-Gyeong maximized the pacing of what we would get from a finale from one of the TV series. Everything in this comic book had to come across as the culmination of what the characters have gone through in the past eleven issues. Even some of the lighthearted moments built off well from the various character arcs.
Most importantly, the six final Junior Rangers who took on Dark Specter were a big payoff for the journey we’ve been on with the cast Ranger Academy. While Sage was obviously the lead character the rest of the five Junior Rangers proved themselves. Each one had a role to play that further elicited the feeling that we were experiencing the final episode of the show.
Through it all Sage further proved herself as a lead character. There was so much build up around her embracing her own Ranger legacy and that all paid off here. Seeing her as the Green Ranger along with the rest of the Junior Rangers was a rewarding moment for fans of this series. Sage’s journey was key in making all the action and moments hit as hard as they do.
For his part, Dark Specter once again proved why he is the ultimate Power Rangers villain. The BOOM! Studios comic books have done a lot to help build up the legendary villain that Dark Specter is. Seeing what he is capable of is something we didn’t get to see in the TV series. The form he takes on here is a reminder of the horror movie villain elements that Dark Specter has that makes him such a terrifying villain.
Jo Mi-Gyeong artwork, with Joana Lafuente coloring, captured the feeling this was a finale very well. The lighting of the final battle took all the action to the next level it needed to reach. It helped put over all the back-and-forth action of the final battle. There was a sense of desperation to it that the artwork really nailed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ranger Academy #12 delivered a conclusion that was reminiscent to a series finale we would get for a Power Rangers TV show. Every character arc we have followed throughout this series had some sort of payoff. It all culminated in a final battle that once again showed why Dark Specter is one of the franchise’s most terrifying villains. If you are a Power Rangers fan and have not read this series make sure to fix that by picking up Ranger Academy when it is collected in trade paperback form.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
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