There's only four more New Comic Book Days left in the decade and we're going out with a bang. This week, a popular series reaches its midpoint and a new crossover begins. What are you waiting for? Read on to check out my reviews this week's upcoming comics!
Disclaimer: I received advance copies of all comics featured this week courtesy of their individual publishers.
Opinions are my own.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (BOOM! Studios)
Ryan Parrott, Simone di Meo, Walter Baiamonte, Igor Monti, Ed Dukeshire
It's been 21 years since the Ninja Turtles came to Angel Grove, and now it's time for the Power Rangers to return the favor. Of course, this limited series takes place in the comic continuity and no one likes thinking about the girl turtle, so let's not mention that again.
Tommy Oliver has gone off the Grid, disappearing to deal with some personal matters. Kim doesn't seem to care, and life goes on for the Rangers. Meanwhile, in New York, Leo, Donnie, Mikey, and Raph are doing what they do with some Foot Soliders when one seems to give them more trouble than usual.
That's right, Tommy Oliver has joined the Foot Clan and he's already impressing Kurai and working his way up the ranks. Obviously he has his own ulterior motives. Or he's actually evil again. One of those two.
Every great superhero crossover has to feature the two sides fight over a big misunderstanding and this first issue wastes no time getting there. Interactions between the right members of the right team make or break a team-up, but the choices of who to pair with who were obvious for everyone once this was announced.
There's a page of Jason vs. Leo, complimenting each other's swords. Then Zack vs. Mikey trying to out-goof each other. Then we get Billy vs. Donnie, being geeky about each other. Those two are hands down going to steal this show. Billy calls them "Ninja Tortoises" and then Donnie calls him "Power Ranger Blue." Glorious.
This series is off to a great start. Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles is the perfect match-up. We're guaranteed great action and comedy when the two funniest and ass-kickingest teams of the 90s collide. The extra-long first issue in this series hits your local comic shop this Wednesday or click here to pre-order it on Kindle.
Die #10 (Image Comics)
Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans, Clayton Cowles
I don't like giving a lot of spoilers away for issues that end arcs like this one. Die's "Split the Party" storyline has been a deeper look into its characters and this one focuses on Ash's first adventures in Angria.
This issue finally gets into that whole "Ash had a baby when he was 17 and in the body of a magical women" thing. We also get into the non-boring political world of Angria as a military coup takes place, setting the stage for what's bound to be a Chaotic third arc.
The rest of the arc has been great and this issue is also great so if you like Die you're probably going to get this anyway. If you want to wait for the whole collection, click here to pre-order the trade paperback of Volume 2.
Ronin Island Vol. 1 (BOOM! Studios)
Greg Pak, Giannis Milonogiannis, Irma Kniivila, Simon Bowland
Holy crap why haven't I been reading this before? A samurai comic that looks like a manga written by Greg Pak? That's a recipe for success. I remember being excited for it, but somehow I don't think I even read the first issue.
Ronin Island begins 30 years after a Great Wind ravaged Japan and neighboring nations. A small island has prospered by bringing together survivors from different lands. Our dual protagonists are Kenichi, the son of a noble samurai, and Hana, a Korean farmer's daughter.
After the two graduate from samurai training - which seems to involve a lot of summer camp obstacle courses and a lot less samurai stuff - the island is visited by General Sato, an outsider from the mainland. The island leaders aren't too keen on his sudden arrival and demand that they bend the knee to some shogun they've never heard of.
And then zombies attack.
Maybe I heard that this was going to be a "horror" comic and tapped out early, but I don't really get horror vibes from it at all. I actually like this series a lot for it's humor and general sense of fun. The two leads bicker and get on each other's nerves in literally every scene their in together. It feels very cute and natural for kids their age.
The four issues in this trade reminded me a lot of Avatar: The Last Airbender, especially in regards to young heroes. It takes place in the 19th century, but they still feel like kids today. We also meet the shogun and he's about the same age as them and a big idiot high on power. So that's cool.
Ronin Island is awesome! Volume 1 collects the first four issues, which you can click here to pre-order. Four more issues have come out so I'm going to scramble to get caught up before #9 comes out. I'm all in on this series to the end!
Go Go Power Rangers Vol. 5 (BOOM! Studios)
Ryan Parrott, Eleonora Carlini, Raรบl Angulo, Ed Dukeshire
Collecting issues #17-20, this marks the end of the original run before the time jump. Here, Rita begins her quest to acquire a Ranger of her own. This arc also delves into the past as we learn more about Rita's origins and her early relationship with Zordon. Hits your comic shop this Wednesday, or you can click here to pre-order a copy.
What comics are you picking up this week? Let me know in the comments below.