Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see the Power Rangers crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles again. Sure you might think I’m referring to the first comic crossover from Boom! Studios and IDW Publishing, which ran for 5 issues from 2019 to 2020. But no, I’m referring to the classic episode “Shell Shocked” from 1998’s Power Rangers in Space. The teenagers with attitude and the turtles in the half-shell are a match made in heaven, with worlds that mesh well together and enough sass to power a Megazord. So it shouldn’t be too surprising that Boom Studios! and IDW Publishing are at it again, with Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.
Ryan Parrott, who is a long-time writer for Boom Studios! With their Power Rangers comics, returns to write this sequel mini-series. Dan Mora illustrates Power Rangers/TMNT II with colors by Raúl Angulo, who together bring a vibrant world for our heroes to save. So what nefarious deeds could be occurring in the world to bring these two groups of superheroes back together? Let’s dive into Power Rangers/ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II and explore the streets of Angel Grove and New York City together.
[Warning: Spoilers from Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II are below!]
A new threat arises in the pages of this Boom! Studios and IDW Publishing crossover
The story of Power Rangers/TMNT II picks up six months after the previous crossover, with a growing relationship between the Power Rangers and the Turtles. Together, they are still training and preparing for the next threat, but ultimately there isn’t much happening in their respective cities. But that doesn’t mean something isn’t lurking in the shadows. An evil is coming and it begins with a jailbreak.
On Rikers Island, Goldar and Rocksteady are working together to release a prisoner which is important to General Krang’s plan for world domination. However, the Power Rangers and Turtles have another idea in mind, kicking some butt and stopping them in their tracks. This plan might just go off without a hitch, if it weren’t for Casey, a long-time friend of the Turtles, arriving on the scene to royally fuck things up. It turns out that Casey isn’t working for the good guys any longer, but instead has traded in his goalie mask for a power morpher and allegiance to Rita Repulsa.
This betrayal shakes our heroes to their core. How could Casey do this to them? Surely there must be something else happening behind the scenes. Regardless, the team must move on to save the world from danger, especially when danger comes knocking on their front door. With Rita Repulsa teaming up with General Krang, the villains use a distraction and break into the command center, cutting off the Rangers from the morphing grid.
They are powerless, with their allies scattered to the wind. Except for the Turtles, who stand by the Power Rangers. Together, the two teams must find a new way forward, paving a new path in the journey of becoming heroes. Can the Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles save the world for a second time? Of course, they can, but it’s going to take a transformation, some may say mutation, to achieve their goal.
The positives and negatives of Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
Like I said in my opening, I never thought there would be continued crossovers between these two mega franchises. Both Power Rangers and TMNT have lived on for decades, albeit at times requiring a reinvention to stay fresh. What Boom! Studios and IDW Publishing bring to the table are two distinct worlds that blend so incredibly well with each other. Each one is so vibrant, which is perhaps one of the reasons the pages of Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II work so well.
In essence, these teams are the same. Teenagers fighting crime, although one team has a leg up because of genetic mutations thanks to some ooze, and the other has powers gifted to them from an alien. But they are all the same snarky teenagers who want to do right for the people of Earth. Because of that, their team-ups are fantastic, because both teams get to continue being who they are. The tone doesn’t shift, which adds to the cohesiveness.
I also enjoy how Parrott didn’t use the same formula as he did with the first mini-series. Power Rangers is a very formulaic show, a bad guy shows up, the Rangers defeat them, they grow large, and they defeat them again. Almost every episode across the 30 years of television follows this exact pattern. While Power Ranger/TMNT II follows a similar pattern in some respects, there is enough difference that the series kept me on my toes. Let’s just say that when the Power Rangers mutate themselves ala turtle style, it was a jaw-dropping moment.
I think one of the reasons it works so well is that it doesn’t come out all the frequently to feel overwhelming. While I was completely satisfied with the first one, the second one cooked for a few years before coming to life on the page. I’m hesitant to think that the magic can be replicated once again, but the way the mini-series ended with a Lord Zedd stinger made me think there’s a future with the Power Rangers and the Turtles. However, I hope they stop while they’re ahead, instead of tarnishing the legacy the first two series left.
Also, if you’re a fan of either comic run looking for something earth-shattering that impacts either ongoing series, then this might not be the series for you. This is more of a one-shot, think of it like an episode of What If…?. It’s a cool situation to think about, but just one that we can visit, look at how cool it is, and put it aside for the main narrative that runs throughout both respective series. Although I will say that Power Rangers/TMNT II is quite possibly one of the coolest what-ifs we’ll ever see.
Final thoughts on Power Rangers/TMNT II
Overall, this is a fantastic five-issue comic series to dive into. It has incredible artwork and a fun story to get lost in. The time commitment is rather low, having read this story in just under an hour. But for that 60-minute window, I was entertained, which is exactly what I look for in a Power Rangers story.
Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II is available now! Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord if you plan on checking this comic out!
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