#prp 12

[kimberlyannharts]

The positive to all this is 2016 Rita Repulsa is now canonically bisexual

[kimberlyannharts]

Did the Prime comic give an explanation as to why Orion was learning magic from Rita?

No, #13 just kind of throws us into the concept without elaborating and he doesn't have enough screentime for the issue to dive into it. Rita calls it "a crutch for [his] own powerlessness" and a "coping mechanism" but we don't know what that means for him specifically or what he wants to achieve with magic.

The intro arc seemed to be hinting that Orion has suppressed anger issues he's afraid of so maybe that's what he needs a coping mechanism for??? Which is fine and makes sense for him, but I don't know why magic specifically would be his outlet, because again, what is he actually DOING with magic???

However I will say that tomorrow's issue, #14, seems to be setting itself up as a focus issue for him so maybe that's when we'll get his perspective on this

[kimberlyannharts]

LAST TIME ON POWER RANGERS PRIME: A year into the series we finally got confirmation on what animal each Ranger is supposed to be! Oh, and I guess Lauren let herself get captured and reunited with her dad. And Jun's evil dad is here to beat everyone up. But guess what? Turns out Valentina is a GRIFFIN, not an eagle.

It's Power Rangers Prime #12!

= I literally have nothing to say about Volar because he is a nothing villain but him telling them to shut up and start fighting is funny. Exactly what I've been thinking for the past twelve issues, dude

= So despite the solicits and covers making it seem like the VR Troopers would join the Rangers in the fight against Volar, their only main contribution is letting Lauren go from prison. (Kaitlin and JB don't even show up in this issue, because of course they don't.) Which is fine, because as we discussed the VR Troopers switching sides would feel very unearned at this point, and it was important that the Rangers get this victory on their own. But it doesn't help the "Prime has been used to boost the VR Troopers and their series" allegations

= and our first look at all the confirmed weapons together. Pink is a mace, Blue is a bow and arrow, Red is an arm sword, Yellow is arm daggers, and Black is a staff. All are fine, but I'll be so goddamn mad about Pink getting a mace yet he's not an Ankylosaurus forever

= Why didn't Zartus just put on the giant monster armor and use it to step on Zedd and Zordon in the 2016 series. Was he stupid?

= Okay I know Jun is a good person yeah yeah yeah uh huh but I think he should have been allowed to say he didn't care what would happen to Volar here. I certainly don't care! Fuck that guy!

= While technically not the comics' first kiss between two guys (Maxie and Salum, the Yellow and Red Solar Rangers, kissed in MMPR #120; though admittedly in the background of the panel and not given focus) this IS our first kiss between two guys in the title Ranger team. So yes, Prime deserves its flowers for that.

I just wish I like. actually shipped it lol. Or at the very least shipped it more than "yeah, that's nice." But I think I'll save my thoughts about that for my big overall review of Prime's first arc

= the answer is yes now LEAVE RYAN LEAVEEEEEE AND TAKE THE REST OF THE VR TROOPERS WITH YOU

(okay she really says "i'll always need you" but girl you can do better. Get with Lauren NOWWWWWW)

= DON'T

= So I guess Lauren going to Angel Grove University under a false identity explains why she had that school sweatshirt in #13's previews, but I hope Rita's using magic or something to obscure her face, because I feel like the Eltarian guards know what she looks like.........?

= But that's the first arc of Prime completed! Overall thoughts to come....soon.

[kimberlyannharts]

I also think this whole "Mark hasn't made any more Zords" thing is forgetting that Mark AND Orion built (found? fixed?) Teezee together, which makes it odd that they're treating the task of building more Zords as solely on Mark's shoulders. Like Mark was always more of the "tech guy" but Orion was always portrayed as his partner in the science.

buuuuuuuut I'm going to be nice and assume the discrepancy has to do with how the lead-up to Orion gaining an interest in magic and becoming Rita's apprentice was clearly cut for time, so we never got to see what might have been a transition period from tech guy to magic guy

[kimberlyannharts]

First notes on Prime #12 -

= A fine finale for the arc, I guess. It hits all the beats I expected it to. This would probably hit harder for someone who has more emotional investment in the Prime Rangers, but they're still not there for me yet. Hopefully now that we can move past the dysfunctional beginnings and show them actually being a team, that can be fixed for me in the future

= It probably doesn't help in this particular case that Volar sucks and I felt nothing from him getting beaten. Complete nothing of a villain despite clearly wanting to be something impactful due to him being JUN'S FATHER. But he's basically just Janessa if you sucked all of the nuance out of her in favor of 100% evil

= The scene with Valentina and Ryan at the end now kind of gives me vibes that the VR Troopers miniseries takes place after the events of Prime #12, but as VRT makes no reference to Prime at all, it's hard to say for sure. But it's the best we can do, I guess

= Also I guess I'm glad the VR Troopers weren't in this issue to give spotlight on the Rangers, but after everything they got throughout this year, it's weird to not show them at all???? Which feeds into my new theory that the miniseries takes place after #12, since they have to stay "on the Eltarians' side" - but again, no way to know for sure

= I had joked about wondering where they'd get more Zords, if Orion and Mark were just going to make more, and....I guess they are??? okay then, fair enough

= Rita not fighting with the others makes sense to give the team their first legit victory but it's not helping my argument that she didn't need to get Ranger powers already

= Guys. Guys. I am trying so hard to be forgiving of the increasing amounts of speech bubble mistakes lately but. Come on.