Score: 92/100 (9.2 out of 10)
Little Joe and the Big Rain is a charming children's story that follows the adventures of Little Joe, a black and brown puppy with floppy ears, and his friend, Hopper the frog. The tale begins with Little Joe waking up on a warm sunny morning and soon encountering his friend, Hopper, who invites him to his home for some fly soup. Their journey takes a twist as they get caught in a heavy rainstorm and are forced to seek shelter in the forest. During their adventure, Little Joe and Hopper meet several animals, including a white-tailed deer and a bear named Roxy. The bear initially seems threatening, but after Hopper helps remove a thorn from Roxy's back, she becomes their friend and offers them shelter from the storm. After the rain clears, Roxy guides them back to the field, and Little Joe returns home, eager to share his day's adventures with Anna, although she cannot understand his barking. This delightful story is filled with vibrant characters and teaches valuable lessons about friendship, kindness, and helping others. The narrative is engaging and suitable for young readers, with illustrations that enhance the storytelling experience. Little Joe and the Big Rain is an endearing tale that children will enjoy reading, offering both excitement and heartwarming moments. Something we really enjoyed about this book were the illustrations. They're somewhat simplistic and cartoonish, but they really reminded us of what you'd expect to see on Cartoon Network. Think Courage the Cowardly Dog or Dexter's Laboratory. Similar to The Great Animal Escape by Linda Harkey, this is a very unserious book that's purely intended for entertainment and fun. It has a very light, carefree tone. Remember when the animals in The Great Animal Escape would just start jumping around or get distracted when serious things would happen? Well, that happens a bunch of times in Little Joe and the Big Rain as well. Little Joe, in particular, is easily distracted throughout the book. He has a wandering mind and a short attention span like most kids, so he may be relatable in that sense. He almost completely ignores Hopper when the frog is telling him his story. He also gets distracted by a red lizard while he's in danger of getting eaten by a bear! Silly Little Joe! Kids will love him. Little Joe has an innocence and nativity about him that's infectious. In contrast, Hopper is more grounded, realistic, and mature. That actually helps to show a contrast between the two characters. At the same time, Hopper is less mobile than Little Joe, probably because of his older age. So, Hopper is sometimes forced to rely on Little Joe to get him from place to place. It kinda reminded us of Traveling Companions by Tuula Pere in which the little boy and the old man rode on the back of the blind blacksmith, guiding him. It's always nice to see complementary relationships and to see characters acting as a team! This is nitpicking a little bit, but we do wish this book were a little more focused. The characters, especially Little Joe, seem scatterbrained. Their minds seem to wander, and so does the plot of this book. It's also a bit on the wordier side for children's book, so this may be more appropriate for kids 9-12, perhaps. Check it out on Amazon!
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Score: 91/100 (9.1 out of 10)
If life has taught us anything, it's that problems don't come alone, they often come in battalions! A slight lack of patience and a small moment of indecision causes an otherwise minuscule problem to snowball in Axel Washes the Rug by Tuula Pere! Shenanigans and hysteria ensue when little Axel, during a routine visit to his grandma's house, accidentally knocks over a bowl of blueberries when he becomes too impatient to eat them. Attempting to hide the mess from his grandmother, he attempts to pick up the blueberries only to find that they've left streaks on the carpet! UH OH! OH, NO! What is little Axel going to do? Afraid that he'll get in trouble, Axel attempts all sorts of remedies and solutions to his problem including flipping the carpet over, then waiting until his grandmother falls asleep to try different cleaning solutions including harsh, abrasive ones like bleach! UH OH! OH, NO! Little does little Axel realize that if he were to just be upfront and tell his grandmother what happened, she would be understanding, forgive him, and even find an easier solution to the problem! This is a familiar situation to anyone who has been a kid and has made a little boo boo (mistake). Sometimes, you do everything except the one thing you should do (be honest and transparent) because you're afraid of upsetting someone, particularly someone you love and care about. Because of that, you allow your little problems to become avalanches, snowballing on themselves, growing bigger and bigger until they are out of control. Actually, adults are guilty of that too. Have you misplaced, lost, or broken something at work, then left without telling anyone for fear of facing embarrassment or repercussions? Have you told a white lie to a loved one only to have it snowball into a bigger, bigger, and less believable lie that comes back to bite you? Often times, it's just to be truthful, honest, and transparent. And, hey, maybe this could be a problem that the two of you could work on together (the way that Axel and his grandma do)! We may have not been the biggest fans of the illustrations or the art style, but they do their jobs. The main thing is that they facilitate a very familiar and heartwarming story that's sure to resonate with many! Check it out on Amazon! Score: 92/100 (9.2 out of 10)
The Best Summer Guest is another heartwarming, love-filled book by Tuula Pere! The book centers on the unique and special relationship between a child and his grandmother. Many of us who were fortunate enough to know and spend time with our grandmothers remember that there was something... different about it. It was different than time with your parents. Simultaneously, it was different from time with your friends, siblings, and classmates. Time with grandma was something else. People talk about maternal and paternal instinct, but few talk about a grandparent's instincts and inclinations. Yes, there's the stereotype that grandparents feel less responsibility and so are more inclined to spoil the child and return them to their parents high on sugar and bouncing off the walls. Ok, that might be more of a reality than a stereotype. Anyway, there's more to that dynamic than just that. Grandparents have a unique and different way of loving you. They have a unique and different way of treating you. They have a unique and different way of viewing you. They offer a wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom that sadly don't get explored much in children's books anymore. In fact, Grandma, I don't Want to Go to Sleep by Richard Ceasor and Axel Washes the Rug (also by Tuula Pere) are the only other books we can think of in terms of this dynamic. The Best Summer Guest follows a little boy named Jonty who is faced with the prospect of spending his summer vacation without his parents, instead spending it with his grandmother, Grandma Gladys. Being separated from one's parents for an extended length of time can be very intimidating. Furthermore, being in a new, unfamiliar place can also be a cause for concern and anxiety. We can definitely relate to Jonty! However, no matter where you are or what you're doing in life, there's always something (or someone) familiar to cling onto. And that's where Grandma Gladys comes in! Grandma Gladys is able to provide structure, guidance, safety, and security in the absence of Jonty's parents. These things give Jonty the courage to explore and try new things (like baking, fishing, and setting up games with yarn and scarves, and tossing pine cones) with less fear and anxiety. They also give him a sense of familiarity and comfort that allow him to do the things he's always loved to do like playing with his toys/stuffed animals and reading with a loved one. Jonty soon discovers that Grandma Gladys has a knack for turning everyday moments into delightful adventures. Together, they visit the farmer’s market, play imaginative games, and bake cinnamon buns for Grandma’s friends, the “Bun Angels.” Jonty also explores Grandma’s cottage, finding hidden treasures and learning to tie knots. One of the highlights of the summer is Grandma's birthday, where a joyous celebration with friends and unique gifts makes Jonty feel cherished and happy. By the end of the summer, Jonty realizes that he has made lasting memories with Grandma Gladys and has had the best summer ever. Grandma Gladys is a delightful character, full of warmth and creativity. Her ability to turn everyday activities into magical adventures is a highlight of the book. Whether it's baking cinnamon buns, playing imaginative games, or exploring the cottage's hidden treasures, Grandma Gladys ensures that Jonty’s summer is filled with memorable experiences. These moments are well illustrated by Milena Radeva, whose artwork brings the characters and their adventures to life. Now, in all honesty, we would've loved to have seen a bit more color in these illustrations. They are a lot more like the illustrations in Lullaby of the Valley by the same author. Some things are colorless while others are brightly colored. Perhaps this was done to emphasize certain things/objects like the suitcase in the driveway or the peas on the counter top. Jonty and Grandma Gladys are pretty well illustrated. One thing that we admired was the emphasis on Gladys's hair (which is clearly dyed a reddish-brown). She also looks totally different from every other grandmother in any other book we've read. Everything about her design tells a story. First of all, there's her aforementioned dyed hair. She also seems to share the same eye-color as Jonty (though that may just be the glint of the light off her glasses). She wears rectangular-framed glasses, implying structure and rigidity—literally like the foundation of a home. That's poetic considering she's the matriarch of the family. She's heavier-set and stocky, perhaps even a bit short. However, she's definitely cute as a character. It can also be noted that Grandma Gladys isn't above wearing bright, floral-print, colorful outfits—things which you'd expect a much younger person to wear. This suggests to us that, though she may be on the older side, she doesn't let that hold her back. Furthermore, she takes good care of her skin, especially her wrinkled feet (with lotion). She also goes out and swims in the lake! She has more guts than a lot of us in that regard. She's rather adventurous and physical. If there's one noticeable flaw about this book, it's the text size. The text size is too small, which makes reading challenging, especially if you're turning your head back and forth to read it to children. It's not untenable, but it is still a challenge. We wonder if, when this was translated from Finnish, maybe the text was converted to a smaller size. Other books by Pere, like A Birch Tree's Year, occasionally have issues with wordiness or text size, but it's not as noticeable as in this book. One of the most endearing aspects of the book is its focus on the special bond between Jonty and his grandmother. Their interactions are genuine and heartwarming, showcasing the importance of intergenerational relationships. The book also subtly imparts values such as kindness, creativity, and resilience, making it both an enjoyable and educational read for children. This book is also an example of community and that it takes a village to raise a child. Grandma Gladys isn't the only one in here to contributes to Jonty's growth, though she does facilitate his other interactions. For example, a neighbor and builder named Teddy comes to help with some of the maintenance around the house, something which Grandma Gladys probably lacks the skill and physical capacity (now) to do. The Bun Angels also come to socialize with Grandma and Jonty, particularly about baked goods. Come to think of it, the theme of baking as a unifying factor carries into this book from Mother's Bread Dough, another book by the author. Grandma also has a lot of guests who come to her birthday, many of whom bring gifts. What this tells us, the reader, is that Grandma is a charismatic figure whose kindness, friendliness, and charm have made her a lot of friends and, thus, brought a lot of people together. Check it out on Amazon! Score: 92+/100 (9.2+ out of 10)
A Birch Tree's Year by Tuula Pere is a delightful children's book that follows the life of a birch tree through the changing seasons. Each month is vividly portrayed with gentle prose and charming illustrations by Outi Rautkallio, capturing the tree's experiences and its interactions with a nearby family. First of all, we wanted to give credit where credit is due to illustrator Outi Rautkallio. No, the illustrations didn't blow us away, but they definitely accomplished what they were intended to. Furthermore, it's actually nice to see another great artist work with Tuula Pere. Outi Rautkallio's illustrations actually complement the earthy mood and tone of the book. They have an almost medieval look and feel to them. Anyway, this book follows the titular Birch Tree as he lives out an eventful yet—somewhat ironically—monotonous year in the yard of a house. On one hand, the Birch Tree and the family experience a lot of things together. On the other hand, many of these experiences are rather tame, calm, and absent of conflict or tension. And perhaps that's the beauty of this book and other books by Pere, like The Best Summer Guest. It's not always about big, huge conflicts and big, huge, climactic moments full of shock and awe (or bells and whistles). Well, you do get some of that in the Felix the Fox series (such as the collapse of the tower). However, most of Pere's books are surprisingly calm and spur-of-the-moment. They flourish in their mundaneness, focusing instead on individual experiences and emotions. The Only Blue Crow and Mother's Bread Dough are great examples of Pere doing this. In fact, in Mother's Bread Dough, there's clearly a big conflict (war) going on in the background, but the book was more focused on the human element and the individual characters. Similarly, A Birch Tree's Year is much more focused on the beautiful and heartwarming experiences that the Birch Tree and family have (especially the kids). The Birch Tree is personified as someone who has feeling, emotions, thoughts, and memories just like a human being, and he's constantly building on those memories as he experiences one thing after another. In January, the birch tree stands bare and cold, shivering under a heavy hood of snow. The warmth of a lantern placed by the children provides a small comfort in the dark winter nights. February sees the children building a snow castle under the birch tree, whose frosty branches watch over their playful creations. This compassionate act by the children lays the foundation for a friendship that lasts throughout the book, a relationship that becomes mutual and reciprocal. With March comes the thaw of spring, and the birch tree begins to stretch and feel alive again. The returning migratory birds add their songs to the yard, much to the tree's delight. In April, the birch's budding leaves signal new life, and it tries to cheer up the youngest child, who is confined indoors due to allergies. What we took away from this section is that it points out how how our relationships with people can ebb and flow, and it's not always due to our own faults. Sometimes, it's just the harsh reality of the situation you and the other person are in. In this case, allergies keep the youngest child away. This is comparable in real-life to when a parent is separated from their children (and vice-versa) due to work or school. The month of May brings a burst of activity as the birch's leaves grow stronger and birds clean out their bird boxes in preparation for new nests. The tree even offers advice to the birds on finding soft materials for their nests. In June, the birch tree enjoys the summer warmth and the lively atmosphere of a child’s birthday party, its branches adorned with decorations. July finds the birch tree helping the family dry their laundry, ensuring the clotheslines stay in place and shooing away birds. As summer draws to a close in August, the children swing on a wooden swing attached to the tree's branch, sharing their excitement about the upcoming school year. This is when we really started thinking about the all-time great children's book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Similarly, the tree offers itself in a self-sacrificing way to the people, being used to dry laundry and also for a swing. The arrival of autumn in September brings rain and chilly evenings, but the birch tree finds joy in watching the children dance in the rain after their sauna sessions. October sees the birch's leaves turning yellow and falling, creating a colorful carpet that the children love to play in while the family prepares the yard for winter. This was probably the strangest panel in the entire book because of the light nudity of the boys (don't worry, nothing is explicitly shown as the genitalia is simply flattened). This imagery may actually hearken back to renaissance paintings such as those featuring nude cherubs. There's a sort of birthing imagery here, almost of a maternal or paternal variety as the tree tries to shelter the children using its shade. November is a lonely time for the birch tree, now bare and enduring the freezing weather, feeling forgotten by the busy children. However, December brings a festive spirit as the tree is adorned with Christmas lights and a sheaf of grains to attract birds, making it feel important and happy again. Again, this highlights the waves of relationships. Sometimes, the people we love can't always be with us, and we need to find the courage and strength in ourselves to muscle through and carry on. This may be analogous to a sort of empty nest syndrome. Throughout the year, the birch tree stands as a steadfast presence, witnessing the ebb and flow of the seasons and the lives of the family members. A Birch Tree's Year beautifully captures the interconnectedness of nature and human life, offering a warm and charming portrayal of the simple yet profound changes that each season brings. In all honesty, it's one of those mixed bags in Pere's rich children's book collection. On one hand, it brilliantly showcases relationships, the passage of time, and individual experiences personified by the tree. On the other hand, there's a slight cognitive dissonance between what we're supposed to feel for the children (in particular) and how we actually feel. We didn't particularly like the children in this book. Yes, they were kind to the tree in the beginning, but they were also swift to turn their backs on and forget about him, actually similar to what happened in The Giving Tree. It also doesn't help that they don't have names or identities beside just “youngest child” and so forth. It makes it a bit harder to relate to them. At least Birch Tree is a likable and lovable character. He is someone you definitely get behind and want to see thrive and be happy. In fact, when he's happy, we're happy. When he's down on his luck freezing in the cold, losing his leaves, and feeling alone, we feel for him. That sympathy is very powerful and important in crafting an effective character. This book also got us thinking about our co-dependent, reciprocal relationship with nature. If we want an Earth to continue to live on, we need to treat it right and take care of the environment. Check it out on Amazon! Score: 91/100 (9.1 out of 10)
Burst the Bubble by Tia Warrick provides an in-depth exploration of the pharmaceutical, biotech, and clinical research industries. Aimed at demystifying these fields, the book serves as a guide for those considering a career in these sectors. Despite its comprehensive nature and valuable insights, the book tends to come off as somewhat flat and robotic, perhaps due to the technical subject matter and Warrick's straightforward writing style. This is especially apparent in its first half. Its second half picks up the pace and tone quite a bit, discussing topics that seem broader-reaching like leadership and employee/worker motivation. The book is meticulously organized, beginning with an overview of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, their evolution, and the wide range of career opportunities they offer. It then delves into the pivotal role of Contract Research Organizations (CROs), site-hospital interactions, and the significance of vendors in clinical trials. Each chapter is packed with detailed information, making it a valuable resource for those new to the field. Burst the Bubble is very comprehensive. The author leaves no stone unturned, providing a thorough understanding of the clinical research landscape, from the organizational structures of pharmaceutical companies to the specific roles within CROs. The book offers practical advice on career development, including the importance of certifications and self-reflection, which can help readers chart their career paths effectively. Warrick includes real-life success stories and case studies, adding a layer of relatability and inspiration for readers. The book's technical nature and Warrick's clinical writing style may make it less engaging for some readers. While the attempt to use humor and idioms is commendable, it often falls flat, failing to enliven the dense material. Unlike more narrative-driven career guides, Burst the Bubble lacks emotional depth, which could make it harder for readers to connect with the content on a personal level. We kept hoping that the author would provide more personal or fascinating stories related to their points. To this book's credit, it raises awareness and interest while exploring a field and a topic that's important to ALL of us. All of us are impacted by the medical/healthcare field. Anyone who gets a flu shot or takes medicine is affected by it. Anyone who gets a check up when they're sick or needs a physical exam for work is affected by it. Every pregnant woman giving birth in a hospital is affected by it. Here in Utah, the biggest employer happens to be a healthcare corporation (Intermountain Health), so thousands of employees and their families are directly affected by it. And let's face it: diseases have been the bane of human existence since the dawn of time. Isn't it about time that we invest more into clinical research to combat diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's? It's 2024 and yet these diseases still ruin and end lives. This is something that we're very passionate about as supporters of the Cancer Research Institute. Another thing we really loved about this book were the sections about leadership and employee/worker motivation. Unlike the rest of the book, which seemed overly specific and niche—full of jargon and whatnot—these leadership and employee/worker motivation section are applicable to just about everyone (a much broader audience). In other words, we were able to relate and take away from these sections more. Overall, Burst the Bubble is a well-researched and valuable resource for anyone interested in the clinical research industry. It excels in providing detailed, practical information and comprehensive coverage of the field. However, its dry, technical style may not appeal to all readers. For those willing to navigate through its dense content, the book offers a wealth of knowledge and insights that can aid in career development within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Check it out on Amazon if you're seeking an extensive guide to the clinical research sector! Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)
Lasting Transformation is an ambitious, introspective, and empowering self-help book by Abby Rosen, PhD! This book provides a unique combination of practical and—what we would call—“metaphysical” advice to help you to achieve your best and happiest self. Something we appreciated about this book is that this isn't a book about being an alpha-male or lady boss. It isn't a book about crushing your enemies, opponents, and problems. It's not a book about getting rich quick. It's not a book about hooking up with guys or girls. It's a book about being YOU-- a fulfilled YOU, a HAPPY YOU. From beginning to end, Rosen emphasizes how important it is to prioritize your happiness and mental health/well-being. So many times, we sacrifice ourselves, our health, and/or our happiness to make others happy. So many times, we work ourselves into the ground to make someone else rich. We go out with someone to make them or our parents or friends happy. We stay in unhappy relationships because it's what others want. We keep working unhappy jobs because we don't see a way out or we don't want to displease our employers or coworkers. We don't follow our dreams for one reason or another. Worst of all, we say that this is life and that's all there is to it. The voice that tells us that “this is life and that's all there is to it” (or other such things) is one of many negative, pessimistic voices that keep us down and hold us back. They rob us of our smiles and our laughter. On that note, one of the things that the author talks a lot about are the voices—the subpersonalities—that make us sad, depressed, anxious, or feel utterly defeated. These include the “Pusher.” That is the voice that keeps telling us to go, go, go and that we haven't achieved enough to deserve good things yet. There's the “Beach Bum,” the voice that tells us that it's not worth trying or doing. There's the “Inner Critic,” the one that keeps us from doing or saying stuff so we don't make a fool of ourselves in front of others (supposedly). There are the “Nurturing Parent” and “Critical Parent” voices that seem to hover over us like a helicopter, a puppeteer controlling our every movement. There are our various “Inner Child” voices that often feel scared, nervous, or vulnerable. There's the “Perfectionist,” the voice that is obsessed with everything being absolutely perfect, else the person risks feeling defeated or disappointed. This voice, similar to the Pusher, almost never seems to be happy, satisfied, or content. That's because perfection is a futile and impossible pursuit. All of these voices have their place and exist for a reason, however, one of the keys to our happiness, fulfillment, and mental health is knowing when to listen to these voices and when to silence them. On that note, one of the biggest takeaways we had from this book is that YOU are in control, not the voices. YOU make the final decision. YOU choose to be happy. While that may not be the most unique affirmative concept ever, it's definitely powerful and meaningful. It restores power back to the person rather than their negative, pessimistic subpersonalities. Speaking of being empowered and being in control, some of our favorite quotes from this book are: “I have a mind, I am not my mind” “I have emotions, I am not my emotions” These are powerful! A lot of us feel like we are “emotional people” and can't see life without being completely guided by our emotions, for better or for worse. Likewise, a lot of us feel like our minds (or bodies) are all that we are, but that's far from the truth. We are a whole. We have dimensions and layers. This book even seems to take the perspective that we have a soul and/or a spiritual self that transcends those things while also intersecting them. Our brains are one of many organs that keep our selves chugging and churning. This book also emphasizes the importance of relationships and how they both teach us and reveal new things to us—about the world, other people, and ourselves. One of our other favorite quotes from this book is: “Hearts that don't touch can't ignite.” This refers to the mental blocks or apprehension that keep us from fully experiencing or immersing ourselves in relationships. A lot of these blocks or apprehensions come from repressed or hidden (often poorly-hidden) issues, some of which spring from negative experiences in the past like abuse, infidelity, or some other betrayal of trust. This book is actually an amazing read, particularly in its first half. However, we have some reservations about the second half of this book. The reason we say that is that this book seems to take a complete 180 in its second half, emphasizing more meta concepts like spirituality and meditation—to what seemed like a pseudo-religious degree. That's not something we were necessarily braced or prepared for. Many readers may be put off by this, especially if they were bought into the more practical concepts in this book. Similar to REAL Psychology by Scott Flagg, PhD, this book starts getting into bizarro territory with weird concepts like “Soul Wisdom Consciousness.” There's even the questionable quote that “meditation is medication.” Having just read the article “Mindfulness Would Be Good For You If It Weren’t So Selfish” by Thomas Joiner, also an accomplished psychologist (who developed the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide), we view those kinds of statements with heavy skepticism. As Joiner alluded to in that article, mindfulness and meditation are not magical or a replacement for modern medicine. That's not to say they can't help, we'd just caution against overselling these things. Otherwise, this is a great book! Check it out on Amazon! Review of “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #4)” by Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson7/15/2024 Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (MORE SO THAN REVIEWS OF ISSUES #1 & #2) Might Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #4) is the climactic grand finale of this phenomenal comic book series by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson! Once again, it is brilliantly and beautifully illustrated by Nico Leon. This book picks up where the last one left off, revealing how Olivia Hart, the daughter of Kimberly Hart and Tommy Oliver, came into possession of the green ranger power coin. Olivia Hart is clearly a fish out of water, lacking the training, conditioning, and experience of the seasoned, veteran Power Rangers. Olivia even says she thinks she needs to throw up after teleporting because she's not used to the Ranger powers. We love that, even though Olivia is morphed, she isn't portrayed as adult-sized or as an insta-badass, which is something that was really annoying about Justin, the blue ranger in Power Rangers Turbo. Yes (in the case of Justin), it's kinda empowering for kids as a kind of escapism, but it also feels unearned and undeserved. That's not the case with Olivia, who has to adjust and adapt to the suit and her Power Ranger powers. Selena Repulsa, the conflicted daughter of Rita and Zedd, is easily able to get the upper hand. Making matters worse, Finster and his putties are ready to join the fight. Thankfully, however, Kimberly is able to use the fallen dragon dagger—one of the most iconic items in the entire history of Power Rangers (gosh, you can just hear that catchy tune it used to make in your head)—to pry the entrapping forcefield open! This releases the OG Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers to join Olivia in her fight against the forces of evil! You can't help but punch your fist in the air, jump, and cheer when you see all of these iconic characters finally get to fight side-by-side again! It really is awesome to see each and every one of these characters let loose and throw down! Something that needs to be mentioned is that Zack brings out his original “hip hop kido” fighting style that looks more like break dancing! So nostalgic! Somewhat humorously, he can even make observations and carry on conversations while fighting like this. The grand majority of us would be out of breath and probably trying to hold down our lunch. Anyway, everyone transforms after this including Selena Repulsa, who has possession of the late Trini's triceratops/yellow ranger morpher. It's so cool! As the characters explain, Selena possesses some of the powers of the yellow ranger in combination with the powers of Rita and Zedd. She is a force to be reckoned with! At the same time, she's not invincible or invulnerable. Similar to the previous issue, she still drops her guard and shows her inexperience from time to time. This, similar to Olivia's situation, was great to see! It's like if two angry teenagers with attitude just happened on some morphers, lacking training and experience. It's kinda fitting in that sense, when you really think about it. Another character that needs some props and attention is Finster. Once again, Finster gets a lot more screen time and development than he did in the original series. For once, you can actually tell that he's both angry and vengeful for all the pain and misery the Power Rangers put him through for years, destroying his creations, his home (presumably the Moon Palace) and almost destroying him. So, like that one guy who drank the whole Dr. Jerkyl & Mr. Hyde potion in League of Extraordinary Gentleman, he transforms himself into a hulking, four-armed, blade-wielding version of himself. Now, we have to say that this is both very cool and very weird. This is really unlike Finster. Finster is a bubbling coward and has always been a bumbling coward. He has rarely—if ever—been front and center in a battle the way that Goldar and Scorpina have. Quite simply, he has never been a fighter. He has always been a thinker. So, to see him throwing himself into combat like he's Leonidas in 300 is pretty dang bizarre, but we can play along for the sake of this great story. Anyway, there are a few big, huge reveals that we have to talk about. If you're still trying to avoid spoilers, maybe click away and read the comic. ____________________________________________ BIG SPOILERS AHEAD ____________________________________________ Are you still here? Ok. Well, the contraption that Finster and Selena concocted to bring Rita back brings about a very different outcome. Rather than bringing back Rita, it brings back Tommy. Now, this is sure to divide the fan base. Some like the finality of Tommy's sacrifice and how it reflects the actor's real-life passing. Those are the fans who probably emphasize stakes and consequences. Others will be happy to see Tommy back and reuniting with his friends and family. Those are the fans who want a more positive and uplifting story. We were somewhere in the middle. However, this did give us a great payoff in terms of some development for Rita Repulsa. Apparently, Rita saw that Tommy was desperately trying to protect and save Selena before the Benevalator exploded, so she decided to save him as well. This is actually powerful and beautiful. And, no, this isn't a character betrayal. We've long known that Rita, despite all of her evil plots and eccentricities, was never pure evil. How do we know that? Well, because the original Z-wave in Countdown to Destruction: Part II (in Power Rangers in Space) didn't kill her or Zedd, it reverted them to benevolent human forms. In Power Rangers Mystic Force, she was even one of the more powerful forces for good in the form of the Mystic Mother, the “empress of all good magic.” Furthermore, we know that Rita had the ability to love. She genuinely loved Zedd and remained married to him long after his love spell had worn off. She also genuinely loved and cared about Selena, as shown by the fact that she had Squatt and Finster take care of her and also wanted her to be a part of the post-war celebration. So, we can totally buy that Rita would do a kind and even self-sacrificing act to reward someone for taking care of her daughter. So, ultimately, this book is able to be a lot deeper, more emotional, and more impactful than you might expect from an action comic. It's about family. It's about love. Even Selena seems conflicted at the end of this book, similar to Astronema in In Space. That's really something we love to see! There's also the mystery of who the new white ranger might be. Is it Trini somehow back from the dead or from another timeline? Is it a redeemed Rita Repulsa? What a cliffhanger! Check it out on Amazon! Review of “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #3)” by Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson7/15/2024 Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (MORE SO THAN THE PREVIOUS 2 REVIEWS) Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #3) follows right in the tracks of the previous book as the OG Power Rangers find themselves trapped on Rita & Zedd's old Moon Palace. They are encaged in a forcefield barrier by the mysterious daughter of the two classic PR villains, Selena Repulsa! This book pulls back the curtain a bit more as we learn what happened near the end of Rita & Tommy's lives at the climax of the final battle 22 years ago. It also reveals a bit more about the mysterious new character of Selena Repulsa. We learn that she was rescued by Tommy when he discovered that there was a child in the palace—essentially in the middle of the battlefield—at the center of the blast radius of the Benevalator. We learn that, from Selena's perspective, Rita attempted to preserve her essence in the morphin grid itself. Selena was discovered, alone and afraid, by Bulk & Skull as police officers. It is tragic and sad to see Selena as a child caught in a situation like this. You really get a sense that she was innocent. She says and does childlike things like calling Finster “Fixter” and mistaking Bulk for Squatt because of his excess weight and stoutness. That also reveals that Finster and Squatt were probably partially responsible for taking care of her on the Moon Palace 22 years ago, indicating that they weren't all bad either. This book also starts to develop the character of Finster a bit more. This is arguably the most development that Finster has ever had in all of Power Rangers. He has always been the goofy, weak, bumbling idiot mad scientist who creates the monsters with his magical clay. In this book, we actually get to see him remote, such as when he reacts emotionally to Rita's death. However, there's a catch to that. He's not just alarmed by her apparent death, but he is fixated on the fact that they're about to “lose.” He seems to prioritize defeating Tommy over the safety of Selena in the flashback scene, which is quite interesting. You could make an argument either way. Maybe Finster is trying to recapture Selena from a hated enemy. We also get to see how depraved Finster is, even cannibalizing his own creations to survive. Then again, what else was he supposed to do? He was wounded, injured, and trapped on the moon without anything else to eat. Anyway, Finster and Selena reveal their big plan to bring back Rita Repulsa using a machine which draws from the captured power coins, Lord Zedd's staff, and the remainder of Finster's clay. However, Kimberly seems to have a secret up her sleeves, one that reveals why Finster & Selena's contraption is failing: a sixth power coin of the sixth Power Ranger! Almost all of this book is one big conversation in one location. Similar to issue #1, it's a lot of exposition—a lot of explaining. Thankfully, the illustrations by Nico Leon are superior to the ones in issue #1. They're more like the bright, beautiful, and vibrant illustrations of issue #2. They really pop! We're starting to get that this four-part epic has a wave-like flow to it. There are peaks and valleys, and issues #1 and #3 appear to be the valleys. However, you need moments like that for the sake of storytelling. You need the audience to understand what's going on between the big set piece actions scenes and wildness. Check it out on Amazon! Review of “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #2)” by Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson7/14/2024 Score: 96/100 (9.6 out of 10)
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS Words can hardly describe the feelings we're feeling after reading—no, EXPERIENCING—issue #2 of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson! Our jaws are on the floor. Our eyes are wet with tears. This comic book... this BOOK. It's INCREDIBLE! The illustrations are even better and more vibrant than the previous book. Credit goes to Nico Leon and Dono Sanchez-Almara for making that happen. What's more? It's filled to the brim with compelling, heart pounding action! That was sorely missing from the previous installment. Right off the bat, we know that it's all about to hit the fan. Zordon is dead. Alpha 5 is dead. The Power Rangers are on a do-or-die mission to attack Rita & Zedd's moon palace/base as if it's the last thing they'll ever do. There's no turning back. There's no surrender. They've brought all of their Zords on this suicide mission far from home. Furthermore, they've brought along a secret weapon known as the Benevolator, a type of explosive device that seems to replicate a Z-wave. The Z-wave was a phenomenon that Andros (the Red Space Ranger) accomplished at the end of Power Rangers in Space by helping Zordon to sacrifice himself for the universe. It's a double-edged sword here just as it was in the original canon. Rita and Zedd order Finster to bust out every monster in their arsenal. Even Goldar and Scorpina are eager to throw themselves into this climactic final battle. This is kinda a big deal for Goldar granted that he has shied away from direct physical combat after being defeated in the early episodes of the series. Many of his superiors actually referred to him as a “coward” despite him obviously having exceptional fighting prowess. Something we really loved and appreciated about this book is that, despite the darker, more violent, and more grim tone of this spin-off as a whole, the Power Rangers still act like the Power Rangers and the bad guys still act like the bad guys. What do we mean by that? Well, despite the Rangers clearly being out to avenge their fallen mentor and robot—characters who were practically family to them—they aren't here to just kill and destroy all the bad guys. They actually want to use the Benevolator to turn all of the bad guys, including Rita and Zedd, to good. This is actually noble and honorable of them. We are so happy to see good guys acting like good guys for once. This makes it clear that our heroes are still heroes and that the Power Rangers are still recognizable as Power Rangers. One of our concerns with the first issue was that the Power Rangers weren't acting like Power Rangers. All of them were entangled in a lie to conceal their identities. Jason was out pummeling and probably killing baddies as a vigilante. Kimberly was willing to let Billy's potentially life-saving research and Zack's potentially world-saving clean energy initiative go to the wayside just to keep the power grid a secret. What happened to doing the right thing? What happened to sacrificing your personal wants and desires for the greater good? Well, we actually get to see those virtues and values play out here, particularly in the character of Tommy Oliver, the original green/white ranger. Tommy is able to see the bigger picture. He understands that this conflict and the stakes involved are bigger and more important than himself. That's a hero. That's a role-model. That's a Power Ranger! And we finally get to see what it was that turned Kimberly from the positive, optimistic, fun-loving, and hopeful character into a mopey, negative, and pessimistic kill-joy. It's absolutely heartwrenching and hits like a bag of bricks! Furthermore, it makes perfect sense for Tommy's character, Kimberly's character, and the plot as a whole. Releasing the power of the Benevolator really does seem like the only way out of the situation that the Rangers are in. If they fail, not only do they fail to avenge their fallen loved ones, but they also leave the Earth and the rest of the universe wide-open to attack, invasion, and subjugation. Our hearts pounded and our tears flowed as Tommy and Kimberly clung to each other in that desperate situation. Our hearts broke and tears poured as Kimberly dropped to her knees and covered her mouth with both hands, holding back a scream from the very depths of her being. What makes this scene all the more epic, powerful, and tragic is that the loss of Tommy isn't the only major loss here. Rita is also killed as Kimberly desperately tries to protect Tommy from her. You can tell that this was done out of desperation rather than malice. Kimberly did not intend to kill Rita, even after all the terrible things that Rita did. Kimberly still recognized Rita as a sentient humanoid being and a PERSON. That really resonated with us. That's what a Power Ranger would think. That's how a Power Ranger would feel. Now, you could make the argument: Well, what about all of Finsters monsters and putties? Didn't they get killed off practically every episode? Well, the lore kinda makes it clear that these monsters and putties aren't sentient beings with—and this is going to sound strange, but it's probably the best way of describing it—souls. The monsters and putties are pretty much bioweapons or bio robots. They aren't that dissimilar from the battle droids in the Star Wars prequels. They are literally made of clay. Rita and Zedd, on the other hand, are actual people. They actually have great emotional depth and feelings. And, yes, they probably have souls. The conclusion of Countdown to Destruction: Part II made that very obvious since they reverted back to “good” in that telling of the story. Furthermore, we know for a fact that—for all of their evil and wrongdoing—Rita and Zedd genuinely, authentically love each other. We know this because the love potion that Rita used on Zedd wore off a long time ago, yet he still adores her. With that said, it's also heartbreaking for us when Rita falls to Kimberly's bow and Squatt runs to inform Lord Zedd that Rita, his wife, has died. This is tragic as well, even though these characters are bad guys. It's hard not to feel for Zedd in that moment. Yes, Zedd, the guy who looks like the literal devil and who wants to destroy everything. The reason for that is multifold. First of all, like we said, we know that Zedd genuinely loves/loved Rita based on the fact that the love potion wore off. He loved her enough to stay married to her and, apparently, have a child with her. If we're going to take the original canon into account, they may have had two children (one of them being Thrax from Operation Overdrive and the other being Selena, the daughter who is portrayed in this book). Our hearts broke for him too. Another thing that made the death of Rita heartbreaking was the fact that the whole scene before this climactic battle showed the villains in a jovial, cheerful, and even positive light. They were actually acting like their absent-minded, bumbling TV selves as they celebrated their huge victory over the Rangers. They seemed so high-spirited like nothing could hurt or touch them. And, of course, that all changes when the Rangers drag the battle into the ninth inning. Before Rita fights her final fight, she is actually in a very good mood. She actually appears to be going to get her baby to celebrate. Now, there is a bit of misdirection using Squatt as a red-herring, but it becomes pretty obvious that Rita is talking about a child after a while. Who else could it be? The whole scene is tragic for both the death of Tommy Oliver and Rita Repulsa, two of the cornerstones of Might Morphin' Power Rangers universe—arguably the most iconic Power Ranger and Power Rangers villain, respectively. The reactions of the characters, especially Kimberly and Zedd, are priceless. They're heartwrenching! This book also has one of the biggest twists we've ever read in a book! And we've read HUNDREDS of books! This might be the biggest. We were not expecting the Trini-looking girl from the last book (Selena) to turn out to be evil. We definitely did not expect her to turn out to be the daughter of Rita and Zedd! And her character—from top to bottom—is fantastic! She looks menacing, like a younger hybrid between her mother and father. However, there's definitely vulnerability to her. Even Kimberly gets the jump on her and gets a hit in, probably using her Power Rangers/fighting instincts. It is clear that Selena, despite her powers and lineage, is vulnerable in more ways than one. First of all, she's young. Second of all, she seems to believe a lie (that Rita saved her), meaning that she's impressionable. Third, she was seemingly raised by humans, discovered by Bulk & Skull while they were police officers. By the way, that was cool to see! So, despite her evil lineage, there's still humanity in Selena and, thus, hope for her. Maybe she can be redeemed! It is so awesome to have a villain who is conflicted. It reminds us of Darth Vader from Star Wars or Astronema from Power Rangers in Space. It is also awesome to have Olivia Hart make her deput as the new green ranger! What a great book! Arguably the best comic/graphic novel to ever come through our contest! Check it out on Amazon! Review of “Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #1)” by Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson7/14/2024 Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Return (Issue #1) is an emotionally gripping homecoming for the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (MMPRs)! It is co-written by Matt Hotson and the original Pink Ranger herself, Amy Jo Johnson! What really elevates this book are the solid illustrations by the talented Nico Leon. Furthermore, Francesco Segala adds a vibrant touch in terms of color. These two did a brilliant job at bringing these timeless characters back to life while also capturing the likenesses of the cast members themselves. In particular, Zack (the Black Ranger) and Billy (the Blue Ranger) look almost exactly the way that actors Walter Jones and David Yost do in real life. By comparison, Amy Jo's character, Kimberly (going by the alias “Emma Phillips”), appears a bit more cartoonish and more like a generic red-haired woman. Her facial features subtly change in different panels. For example, her nose is noticeably shorter/smaller from pages 13-22, then resumes to being longer on page 23, more resembling the actual person. This might be a minor gripe, but it's something we definitely noticed. Amy Jo Johnson was every boy's crush in the 1990s and she genuinely remains one of the most beautiful women alive into the 2020s, so we'd liked to have seen her in a bit more flattering light. At the same time, there's an aspect to the character's appearance which works for the sake of the character and story. Kimberly is clearly a person who has been through and suffered a lot. The character isn't a young, hopeful spring chicken doing handstands and somersaults anymore. She is someone who has lost numerous people she has loved including Tommy, her love, and Trini, her best friend. She is someone who has fought the forces of evil and survived almost daily assaults from the likes of Rita, Zed, Goldar, Putties, and giant monsters. She has been possessed/turned “evil” multiple times by multiple villains. She has almost died numerous times. So, we can understand why the character would appear a bit more downtrodden than the gorgeous actress she's meant to reflect. And that comes with pros and cons. On one hand, Kimberly is a much more serious and brooding character than she ever was before. She exudes an introspective, dark, mysterious aura in contrast to the outgoing, friendly, positive aura she used to have in the series. On the other hand, Kimberly—in all honesty—comes across as a real Debbie Downer or party pooper in this first issue. Her light is all but extinguished. She's constantly irritable, angry, and upset with other characters. One such incident is when Billy & Zack revealed how they've been trying to use their Morphin' grid/Morphin' coin powers for good. Billy was using it for his potentially life-changing research (teleporting food and medical supplies to those in need or teleporting people out of disaster zones). Zack is using it to produce clean energy (presumably to address climate change). Kimberly throws one of several fits or outbursts in this scene, even going so far as to hit the table and get the attention of the waitress and others in the establishment. She has seemingly convinced Billy & Zack to lie about who they are and where the Power Rangers come from. Which begs the ethical question: Should Power Rangers lie? We understand that she's doing these things for good reasons: to protect the secrets of the Rangers so they don't get misused or fall into unscrupulous hands. However, these scenes paint her in a really negative, unlikable light. Keep in mind: Kimberly (the Pink Ranger) is arguably the most beloved Power Rangers character of all time. Really, her only real competition is Tommy, the original Green/White Ranger. That's not to say there haven't been other great Power Rangers characters like Astronema/Karone from In Space, Olympius from Lightspeed Rescue, or Trent from Dino Thunder, but the original Pink Ranger is absolutely ICONIC. Kids of the 90s think about Kimberly a lot like others think about Luke Skywalker, Optimus Prime, or Santa Claus, especially girls who grew up at the time. This is a character who is supposed to inspire hope and optimism. So, similar to Luke Skywalker's portrayal in The Last Jedi, it is extra painful to see her portrayed as being such a depressing, negative, and gloomy person. That is something that bothered us a little bit. Again, we're not invalidating the character's right to mourn for those she has lost and to wrestle with the PTSD she most certainly suffers from. However, there's a way to go about that for a character like Kimberly. For example, think about Vash the Stampede from the original run of Trigun. The pain, suffering, and loss he experienced was immense, but he buried it behind a facade which overcompensated for the hurt in his heart—overly cheerful, overly happy, overly positive, so much so that it became obvious to those close to him that he was hiding something deep inside. Kimberly in this book is so explicitly grim. She's so... doom and gloom. She's so crushed and defeated. It really is tragic to see such a positive, uplifting character fall into such a pit of despair. And perhaps that's what the creator were going for. It's the ultimate twist to show a character who was once so full of life and hope become someone who seems to be waiting for time to expire. And, you know what? We get it. There have been times in our lives when we've lost our smiles. There have been times in our lives when we didn't want to go out and party, choosing instead to be alone to wallow in suffering in pain. It's part of a process—a grieving, coping, and healing process. The ending of this book introduces us to some hope for Kimberly's character. Perhaps a relative of Trini's can restore her hope and faith in the future? On that note, perhaps the best thing about this entire first issue is the amount of respect paid to the fallen Power Rangers. Seriously! Both Trini and Tommy, whose actors passed away in real life, are given epic tributes throughout this book. In fact, we found ourselves genuinely emotional and teary eyed during several of these scenes. There's a scene in which Billy is talking publicly about Trini's life, accomplishments, and how she touched people, and Kimberly is shown reflecting on the times that she and Trini spent together. That whole panel was probably the best and most beautiful part of the entire book! It helps that those flashbacks are so much brighter and more vibrant than the rest of the book, portraying the characters in their classic overly-bright 90s outfits. That is contrasted with a shot of Kimberly in a much darker panel saying, “I miss you, my friend.” We then immediately transition to Kimberly visiting the grave of none other than Tommy Oliver, the love of her life, leaving a white rose at his grave. His gravestone reads, “His spirit lives on.” Both of these scenes grabbed us by the heartstrings. One thing that we're still wrestling with is what's going on with Jason. Apparently, Jason was a firefighter who underwent a deep trauma of his own. He became trapped in his Red Ranger morphed form, apparently becoming a kind of vigilante in that form. We're expecting Issue #2 to expand on this a bit more. UPDATE: So, apparently some of us less cultured judges misunderstood the panels about Jason. One of our nerdier judges pointed that out today. Apparently, Jason isn't permanently trapped in his morphed form, it's more so like he became addicted to using the Morphin' powers to do good, probably to fight terrorists and gangsters or something. What actually happened was a mysterious cloaked figure attacked him and took his Morphin' coin, which will likely play out and be explained in the next issue. Who is this mysterious figure and why did they want Jason's Morphin' coin? Our biggest gripe with this first issue is that it FLIES. It actually almost feels rushed. Furthermore, exacerbating this feeling, about 75-80% of seems like exposition. In other words, there's A LOT of explaining in this book. Most of it is all crammed into one diner scene. So, in all honesty, we came away from this issue thinking, Is that all? Really? It wouldn't be half bad if there wasn't already a 30th Anniversary Comic Special serving as a prelude to all of this, explaining a lot of what's going on. It's almost like having a prologue, then explaining the prologue in chapter 1. Then, why have a prologue? Another feeling we had was: Haven't we been here and done this already? How many more times can you retcon the same story? Just last year (in 2023), we got Power Rangers: Once and Always on Netflix, which we have mixed feelings about, and which this seems to mirror a lot. We also got the Power Rangers movie in 2017. As much as we love Power Rangers, we were really hoping for something new, fresh, and different as opposed to the same ole' same ole'. Like, Rita Repulsa herself has been done to death. The poor lady was already redeemed in Countdown to Destruction, yet we had to see her continuing to be evil in Once and Always and on planet Nibyro in Power Rangers Dino Fury. UPDATE: After reading some of the other issues, our concerns above were addressed and we were genuinely elated by the surprises in this series! Lastly, we wanted to mention a few of the beautiful nods and homages to the original series we noticed. There are so many, but here are a few: - Bulk and Skull make cameos near the beginning of the book. Well, actually, it almost appears as if Bulk is here reflecting on his time hanging out with Skull. So, like... is Skull... dead? Or did he just move on from Angel Grove? The last we remember, Bulk & Skull (of all people) led the human revolt when Dark Specter's armies under Astronema tried to force humanity to submit to their rule in Countdown to Destruction. We don't remember Skull dying. Maybe we're reading too much into that panel. UPDATE: One of our nerdier judges pointed out that the character we thought was an older Bulk is actually an older Ernie, the owner of the restaurant that the characters frequented in the original series. Apparently, his actor, Richard Genelle, had actually passed away, so it is touching to see a third OG of the series receive a tribute here. UPDATE: One of our nerdier judges pointed out that Countdown to Destruction probably didn't happen in this universe because it's an alternate retelling and alternate version of what happened at the end of the Zordon Saga. - Kimberly still appears to wear the half-heart locket necklace that Tommy gave her in White Light, Part II - Selena appears to be the spitting image of Trini. It's almost chilling how similar they look! - The head of Alpha 5 can be seen on Billy's desk with a rose left there as tribute. We are super excited for issue #2! Check this out on Amazon! |
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