Good evening heroes, we are playing catch-up as Boom! Studios sent us several issues to review over the past week. Today, we come to the end of an era, a rather one unfortunately though, as VR Troopers finally concludes. Impressively, this mini-series has managed to recapture many elements that fans, including myself, loved about the original television series. However, it has also put a new spin on the story and improved on some elements missing from the show. Anyway, with that said, let us break back into Ziktor Industries and see how the VR Troopers defeat Grimlord!
Comic Credits
- Artist: Sebastián Piriz
- Colorist: JP Jordan
- Lettering: Taylor Esposito
- Writer: Mairghread Scott
- Designer: Madison Goyette
- Editor: Lily Kessinger, Tea Fougner, Andy Schmidt
- Cover Artist: Taurin Clarke
- Special Thanks David Mariotte and Caroline Butler
- Hasbro Special Thanks to Linda Lee, Lily Zahn, Tayla Reo & Ed Lane
[Warning: The following review contains spoilers, so readers should proceed at their own discretion]
Review
Now, we begin our story with the VR Troopers continuing to fight their way through Ziktor Industries’ main building. Currently, they are advancing towards the basement levels, and it is a montage of them defeating hoards of Skugs. Eventually, they enter an elevator that takes them lower, and Ryan’s mother Amy blasts out the security camera. Personally, I enjoyed this sequence as it includes the security system’s POV, showing a technicolor connection lost message. However, once our heroes reach the bottom floor things intensify, as they are met by one of Grimlord’s tanks. Immediately, the Troopers scatter to avoid the attack, and dash to destroy Grimlord’s Virtual Reality portal. Whereas, Amy proceeds to combat Dark Heart alone in hopes that it buys the Troopers some necessary time.
Interestingly, this opening sequence is spectacular, and praise goes out to Piriz for his fantastic action scenes. Personally I think Piriz is great at capturing a character’s motion, and transitioning between multiple panels or scenes. For example, there is an instance where the Troopers’ boots are seen running in the foreground towards Grimlord. Whereas, the accompanying background makes sure to focus on Amy choosing to confront Dark Heart. Ultimately, this leads up to the VR Troopers finally coming face-to-face with Grimlord for the final battle. Coincidentally, this moment also stands out since the television series never depicted this face-off between the heroes and their enemy. Normally, the Troopers rarely met Grimlord at all or even transformed, with the exception possibly being the Metalder source footage. So, from the intense action and moments like this, the VR Troopers comic is becoming an all-time favorite of mine.
Surprisingly, things take a crazy turn from this point onwards, as Grimlord retreats through his portal as Ryan attacks. However, Ryan is met by two of Grimlord’s generals, Decimator and Toxoid, making their debut in the comics. Personally, I am shocked they did not appear sooner in some capacity, especially given Decimator’s onscreen battles were epic. Although that was due to the Metalder footage, where the titular character often traded wins with Decimator’s counterpart Coolgin. Nevertheless, with Decimator’s appearance it made me wonder how both his and Ryan’s comic adaptations would continue their rivalry. Unfortunately, before we can really see this battle commence the story returns to Dark Heart and Amy continuing their fight.
During Dark Heart’s and Amy’s portion of the battle, it is clearly presented that Tyler Steele is fully under Grimlord’s influence. As Dark Hart cites, “This is how things were destined to end. Earth’s pathetic heroes, destroyed by their own hubris.” So, given everything revealed on how Virtual Reality was discovered in the Prime universe, Dark Heart’s statement is not wrong. First, it returns to his and even Grimlord’s theory that Eltarians believed humans were below them. Secondly, it highlights how Tyler Steele was originally trying to invent something to possibly overthrow the Eltarians’ colonization of Earth. Sadly, that never happened though, and it all led to the current situation of Grimlord seeking dimensional conquest.
However, Dark Heart finally gets the upper hand in this battle, readers quickly discover Amy is actually Kaitlin’s duplicate. Thus we finally begin to see what our heroes planned to do to stop Grimlord while inside the elevator. Somehow, Kaitlin’s duplicate borrowed Amy’s Dark Heart gear and was modified to have her voice to be a distraction. As a result, it would allow Amy to commandeer another weapon, specifically the tank, to destroy the portal. Luckily, everything goes off as planned, the portal is destroyed and it begins collapsing, forcing Grimlord’s forces to retreat. Unfortunately, the retreat does not go smoothly for Dark Heart, as he is forced to use Amy as a hostage.
Immediately, Ryan tries to negotiate with what is ever left of his father Tyler within Dark Heart. For example, Ryan offers Tyler a chance to join them in their battle against Grimlord. Sadly, it is revealed that Tyler is too far under Grimlord’s control to be saved at this given time. Especially, as Piriz gives readers an emotional and tragic glimpse of Tyler underneath Dark Heart’s helmet. Coincidentally, the panel leaps out more from Jordan’s colors emphasizing that the red mark is the helmet’s visor revealing Tyler’s face. Personally, I found this as a wonderful contrast to the norms of tokusatsu where heroes are primarily shown through their helmets. So, seeing a villain’s face distorted and cloaked in shadow shows how the concept can be used for tragic situations. Anyway, Amy breaks free of Dark Heart’s grip, as he proceeds to try gunning down Ryan to make his escape. Thankfully, Ryan avoids the blasts, but Dark Heart manages to enter the portal to reunite with his master.
Then Ryan begins having a mental breakdown, realizing his father is his enemy, and his mother must leave him again. Especially, since Amy is regarded as a criminal by the Eltarians, whom Ryan also cannot trust. Also, Ryan reflects on how this situation is similar to how Val, his girlfriend, is treated currently. Furthermore, Ryan assumes that given everything which has occurred, JB and Kaitlin will leave him too. Personally, I find this moment to be very realistic, as Ryan is most likely undergoing some form of shock. Specifically, since for Ryan the past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster of his parents trying to kill him. So, I love how Scott has written Ryan to be this heavily tragic character fans should feel empathetic towards. Thankfully, Ryan is calmed down by his teammates, as JB and Kaitlin reassure Ryan that they are not leaving him.
Eventually, the Troopers depart Ziktor Industries, as Amy decides to bring the entire place down before taking her leave. Coincidentally, the Troopers are surprised and delighted by Amy’s method of dismantling the location. However, Ryan is quick to ask the others on how they should address the situation to Zarysh. Interestingly, JB replies that they only inform her on what she needs to know, alluding to their Eltarian issues. Especially since the events of this VR Troopers mini-series possibly occurs when Lauren is captured during Power Rangers Prime. So, the Troopers are more aware of how corrupt “Earth’s saviors” truly are. Anyway, everything comes to a close with our heroes doing the “Trooper Tap,” a campy group fist bump…
Overall, I really enjoy how this mini-series closes on an open ending leaving readers wondering how Grimlord will return. So, either another VR Troopers mini-series is coming in the future, or Grimlord is Power Rangers Prime’s next villain. Hopefully, one of those options are happening since I want to see the VR Troopers defeat Grimlord. Especially, since the television series never had a definitive finale where our heroes stood victorious. Personally, I think the Troopers deserve more ongoing mini-series though, so they stand alongside the Rangers as equals. Additionally, gives the creative team behind this book more consistent work and time to celebrate the Troopers. Specifically, since the comics can flesh out JB and Kaitlin further, as Mairghread has shown through Ryan’s update story. However, with things being left uncertain regarding Power Rangers comics at Boom! Studios, I wonder where everything is going. Nevertheless, I have been Ben Odison and I will see everyone next time, but do not forget “We Are VR!”
