Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 brings the long awaited abundance of Rangers as main feature of the franchise is utilised for a finisher. BOOM! Studios marks the end of the 30th anniversary event and the long running comic series with this last instalment.
The finale instalment of Darkest Hour features as a graphic novel to conclude the 12 month comic event. Featuring a huge bout between Ranger seasons, Flores merges various characters from different seasons and comics originals to add an amalgamated conclusion. Featuring victories, consequences and unexpected perpetual potential, the last chapter provides a cataclysmic end that leaves you hungry for more.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers reaches a series conclusion as Darkest Hour concludes the entire comic book story. Melissa Flores features as the writer tasked with 30th anniversary event and the last arc for the 8 year long series from BOOM! Studios. The last instalment also features the talents of artist Simona Di Gianfelice and Raul Angulo, with letterer, Ed Dukeshire. San Diego Comic Con 2024 recently hosted a panel for the franchise, featuring the last instalment and new upcoming releases for eager fans to await next.
Warning: The following content may contain spoilers for the contents of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1
Darkest Hour #1 Mixes Closure with Unanticipated Openings
The finale of Darkest Hour finally sees the Rangers up against Dark Spector at full power. A collection of heroes, villains and corrupted characters finally features a clash as the final battle takes place. A range of characters take part in the last release written by Mellissa Flores, ending the incredible journey taken place as part of the 30th anniversary. As the Rangers finally push against the infection, reunions and all out assaults conclude the series.
Rangers United Under Threat
All characters finally appear in a great conflict on Earth, with the Hyperforce Rangers leading the charge as Lord Zedd deals with the Skull ship. The reinforcements seen in the last issue brings fantastic visuals of a magnificent fight, but we also get to see some great action from unmorphed characters too. This includes Jason fighting with Bulk and Skull as they mount a great stand against foes with some delightful quirky dialogue.
With the void reconnected, the biggest reunions take place while goodbyes also feature. Seeing so many Rangers emerge from a portal to the void was wonderous to behold, with Serpentera also joining the fight. There was also a spotlight placed on the tainted Wild Force Black as he attacks Jason, but Hyperforce Pink added the most satisfying encounter. This includes a confrontation between the Pink Battle Warrior mode battlizer as she faces Mr. Ashford. However, this was simply a brief altercation and doesn’t have the finale closure fans were hoping to see between these characters.
Dramatic Side Effects and Reunions On All Fronts
Kimberly and Tommy saying goodbye hit hard after their reunion is cut short, but we also see Adam and Rocky still remaining out of action. However, Billy’s actions to shatter the Grid once more feature as a big part of the last instalment. The ramifications are magnified by the reveal of alt-world Trini and Kiya disappearing alongside Grace. The focus on the moment is shifted back and forth as the main feature is the big battle, but it grants an essence of tension in the background.
After the starting battle, we get to see Jason and Trini finally talking about the new relationship between Omega Red and Zack. This is also brushed with some humour to cut the tension as eyes roll to Young Tommy meeting his older self, Dr. O. This is not the type of encounter fans were expecting but it was great to see the Dino Thunder Ranger meet himself. Seeing Kendall say goodbye to the Phantom Ranger was a big moment to showcase the time of conclusion. This moment felt like a true moment to slowly say goodbye, followed by the unexpected return of the Death Ranger.
Bringing Pieces Together One Last Time
Fans get to see a fantastic merge between the Rangers on Earth to those in the Void dimension. This means that the Solar Rangers can finally join as an active part of the battle, while also bringing their iconic Zord back. However, Candice finally comes back as Zelya rejoins the battle with the Eltarians at the perfect moment. Fans also got to see the Hyperforce Megazord and the Dark Rangers piloting the Serpentera Zord.
Lord Zedd in his Ranger mode also takes a great slice of the action, and it was great to see the twist of Death Ranger working with him to tackle Dark Spector. It made sense to use the Dark Rangers as a reference used to pilot his Zord, allowing him to fight face to face with his adversary. Death Ranger may have been defeated in the battle, but he attitude towards his former master still kept his menacing attribute. It was great to see this conflict take place in the last instalment, while used to distract the villain to the set up to victory.
It was brilliant for Flores to include the Zeo Crystal Planet as the stage of the decisive battle. There were so many assets from the comics brought together thanks to the flow of the event, with this last issue perfectly letting the stage shine bright. Dayne is also used to escalate the event that allows for more assets to feature. There was even a mention of the Gravezord from Ranger Slayer, which shows how much the Writer wished to capture as much from past arcs as possible before the end.
Great Feature Used as Fitting Final Strike
Putting Zordon at the centre of the big moment was a perfect way to mark the start of victory. His energy tube being used for the funnel of Morphin Power allows for his big moment in the Space series to seem even more potent than before. However, it was fitting that the biggest moment in the instalment was a Morphin that sees everyone access their powers to defeat Dark Spector. Seeing everyone power down and then panels bringing so many characters into focus was a perfect and powerful way to clear the infection, after such a devastating mission to survive it.
There was also a great amount of representation that seemed to have highlighted different characters. It was great to see these Rangers in these frames instead of the same iconic characters used again if seen in Shattered Grid. Zordon also has a chance to play an active role as he manages to subdue Dark Spector by regaining some control of his possessed body. However, it was fitting that the Mighty Morphin Team were reunited as Rocky and Adam join the Morph that vaporises Dark Spector. It was great to see the Season 2 team at this conclusive point since it reflects the series highlighted in the title.
Last Chapter Keeps Book Open
There was still some big devastation in the last issue, including the death of the Blue Omega Ranger and Scorpina looking for the lost Trini. However, the most confusing part to this concluding graphic novel is how much the door has been left wide open. As the finale for Darkest Hour and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics, the last few pages felt like a sudden departure rather than a satisfying end to the long comic run.
Fans may have hoped this series would also be the resolution for the Hyperforce Power Rangers, but the worst part is how the story feels like a loose end. Mr Ashford was captured and as the true Alliance Leader that broke the timeline, this is a huge development that needs a continuation. Whether this will be linked to another future series is unclear, but a substantial end was expected to feature in this release. The plus side is that the story gives a preview into Billy’s future as he attempts to fix the Shattered Grid, but it is unclear if the continuity of the comics has now been fixed to align with the 30 year long TV series, which fans may have wanted.
For a Morphinominal end to the infection with a path open for more, we give Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 a total score of 8 out of 10.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour #1 is now available at your local comic book store and as a digital copy. The graphic novel features as the end of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the conclusion of the Darkest Hour comic event.
BOOM! Studios will feature Power Rangers Infinity #1 as the next Power Rangers comic releasing on August 21, 2024. The one-shot graphic novel will be followed by Power Rangers Prime #1, which was teased at SDCC 2024 and is scheduled to release in November 2024.
For more Power Rangers comics, keep an eye on upcoming reviews for BOOM! Studios releases. For more Power Rangers, keep an eye on social media and keep following The Toku Source for more news and announcements.
