This week, the final chapter of BOOM! Studios of the latest Power Rangers Prime story arc hit newsstands, with a confluence events spelling an ending that disrupts the entire chessboard. Written by Melissa Flores—a longtime Power Rangers fixture on all sides of the creative process—with art by Michael YG, colors by Fabi Marques, and a main cover by Taurin Clarke, Power Rangers Prime #12 features the Rangers and VR Troopers clashing with Volar, while Rita makes a last-ditch effort to remake reality. With the stakes never greater, this concluding chapter is one you do not want to miss.
I spoke with Melissa Flores recently about where we find the Power Rangers about this latest arc of Power Rangers Prime (which concluded this week), her long and layered history with the Rangers, working with the creative team on the book, and what has kept her coming back to the Power Rangers franchise year after year.
Power Rangers Prime strikes that perfect balance of being accessible to newer readers and engaging veteran fans. As with all its other Power Rangers books, BOOM! has consistently shown that they know the MMPR franchise inside and out, but never fail to surprise fans with novel new obstacles and twisty turns. Much of that success can be attributed to whip-sharp writing like Flores pours into her tales. Along with the rest of the creative team, Power Rangers Prime is always a breakneck good time!
FreakSugar: Before we get into the start of this new arc, what is your history with the Power Rangers? You’ve been involved with the larger franchise for a good while now.
Melissa Flores: Absolutely. Power Rangers has been so important to me for so many years. I owe a lot of my career to this brand, and I can’ t imagine what my life would have been without it.
I started at Saban Brands in 2012, during the first year that Power Rangers was bought back from Disney. I was a coordinator back then, and worked my way up to Director of Development and Production. Along the way, I got to know the brand in ways I never thought possible. I learned about every team, every Zord, every color, every season. But I also learned about the DNA of the brand. And I truly fell in love with every part of it.
I thought I was done with Power Rangers back in 2020 when I left Hasbro, but I guess Power Rangers wasn’t quite done with me.
FS: Where do we find the Rangers at the beginning of Power Rangers Prime #11?
MS: They’re scattered and torn. Lauren is still in Eltarian custody, Jun has just revealed something incredibly dangerous to his mother, and the rest of the Rangers are doing their best to figure out their next move. Thankfully, a new ally may come in and offer some unexpected help.
FS: FreakSugar had the opportunity to share an exclusive preview of Power Rangers Prime #11 and the art and words just leap off the pages. The pages strike the perfect balance between fun and weighty. What is your collaboration like with the creative team?
MF: I try to strike a delicate balance in my scripts in which I give as much as I can to the artist, colorist and letterer but also not telegraph so much that there isn’t room for them to have fun with it. Michael YG is an incredible artist – every scene is so dynamic and I’m often so surprised by how he interprets my words and brings these characters to life in ways that I never could have imagined.
When you add to that Fabi with her incredible nuance in her colors and Ed’s crisp, intentional lettering, it comes together in a beautiful piece. I’m so grateful to be part of the team.
FS: What has been the most gratifying aspect of working with the Power Rangers franchise? What keeps it fresh and alive for you?
MF: Honestly, it feels to me like I encounter a new part of it every single year. I’ve gone from wandering the dusty halls of a warehouse in Santa Clarita, searching for decades old costumes, to dreaming up video game scenarios, to writing a comic book series, and everything in between. My relationship with Power Rangers is incredibly deep and nuanced, and I’m so thankful and grateful to know it and love it was much as I do.
I feel like I’ve grown with the brand in every way. To be able to dream up my own team of Power Rangers and see them brought to life in Prime has been gratifying in a way I can’t even explain. That was something I’d never thought I’d see happen.
FS: Do you have a favorite character or characters? Or is that like picking a favorite kid?
MF: It is very much like picking a favorite kid. I have a new favorite every day of the week. There’s so many Rangers, and they’re all so diverse, how can you really pick a favorite? Some days it’s Jen Scotts, some days it’s Tommy. Or Kendall from Dino Charge. Or Adam. I love them all for so many different reasons. I think the magic comes from the fact that being a Ranger really is just taking the best parts of yourself and amplifying those traits. So anyone can be a Ranger, and that means we have such a diverse beautiful cast to identify with and find our favorites.
FS: Do you have any other projects in the works you’d like to share?
MF: Unfortunately, there are very few upcoming projects I can actually share details about right now. But in addition to Power Rangers Prime, I just finished up the first arc of Biker Mice From Mars from Oni Press and have been working on some other comic projects that hopefully you’ll see soon.
I also worked recently on a video game called Wartorn that you can get on Steam right now, by StrayKite Studios! There’s also some television and film projects that hopefully I can share some news about soon.
FS: What are you reading right now?
MF: My buddies Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom are doing an amazing series called Immortal Legend Batman right now that’s amazing. I also really enjoyed the series Dark Ride by Joshua Williamson. I’ve finally been able to finish the series and it’s just so much fun to read. Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin has got me really excited to see where it’s going.
Plus, I’m loving Absolute Wonder Woman, and Exquisite Corpses.
FS: Is there anything you can tease about what we can expect in this new story?
MF: Lauren came to Angel Grove to search for her family, and that’s not something we’ve forgotten. As we got into this new arc, we’re going to see some things reset and change up, but that’s going to be Lauren’s constant – the one thing she can’t forget.
How she goes about trying to find them puts her in a really interesting predicament. As for the others… they have their own personal challenges as they struggle to adjust to their new normal. But they won’t get a lot of time to settle in… something’s coming for Earth, and it’s even got the Eltarians shaking.
FS: If you had a final pitch for Power Rangers Prime—both the arc and the book as a whole—what would it be?
MF: At its heart, Power Rangers Prime is a story about finding yourself – the good, the bad, and the best of you, all of it matters. You take what you came with, and who you are, and you decide who you want to be. And when that happens, you find yourself suddenly feeling a little less alone.
That’s what I think Morphing is, really. Finding the best version of yourself … as you are, and as you want to be.
Editor’s note: That’s just perfect.
Or, if you want to be literal, Power Rangers Prime is a story about a group of young heroes who team up with a chaotic space witch to try and overthrow an invading alien colonizer. Either way… morphing happens. XD
Power Rangers Prime #13 is on sale now from BOOM! Studios.
From the official issue description:
The stakes are higher than ever in this game-changing arc finale!
The Rangers and VR Troopers unite to take down Volar!
But even if they survive the battle, can they live with the consequences of victory?
Meanwhile, Rita has one last spell up her sleeve that has the power to rewrite everything…