 This article is about a/an graphic novel in the Power Rangers franchise.
|
Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon is a graphic novel published by Boom! Studios and written by Kyle Higgins.
Synopsis
After his time as the Black Dino Ranger in Dino Thunder, Tommy Oliver has moved on from being a Ranger, letting the S.P.D. Rangers defend the world. Unfortunately, his son goes missing, and he'll have to discover some things about his past and join up with some surprising teammates to find him and bring him home safely.
Continuity and Placement
- Sky Tate's appearance as Earth commander of Space Patrol Delta places this story following Power Rangers SPD (2025) in the timeframe established by Once A Ranger, where Bridge Carson reveals that he has become the new Red Ranger to replace Sky who had himself been promoted when Fowler Birdie retired as Supreme Commander and was replaced by Anubis Cruger.
- Tommy Oliver is said to have last morphed 8 years ago.
- Tommy recalls that he first received his Zeo Power Coin 20 years ago.
Plot
At Bridgeport Township High School, the board has made some cuts to their budget eliminating the science department and a party is held for Tommy Oliver's untimely retirement. His wife Kathrine is soon leaving with her school for a trip to the planet Triforia and once she returns, she and Tommy will be taking a vacation for a few weeks. David McCarthy, head of the science department gives a toast to Tommy and hopes he does well with his life.
The next day, Tommy is driving to drop Kat off and she said that their son JJ called to warn her of Varox Radicals on Triforia. Tommy asks if they sent a batallion of S.P.D. officers to work the spacecraft Kat replied that it was probably tied to a gang war. Tommy wonders if during their time as rangers really made a difference, but Kat reassures him that he saved many lives for the better as a ranger, as a teacher, and as a father. As Kat leaves, Tommy experiences problems with his back leading to a trip to New Tech City Hospital. The doctor says he should've come a few weeks ago and asks about the last time he had them stripped and reconnected. Tommy replies not since they were put in since the "car accident". The doctor said they'll run longer diagnostics in a few weeks and tells him not to do anything crazy.
At home, Tommy pulls out his Master Morpher and thinks back to the day of the "car accident" 8 years ago, which in reality Tommy was fighting an unknown monster as the Green and White Ranger, resulting in critical damage to his back and the Master Morpher. Just then his son calls him from S.P.D. headquarters letting him know that he's going to a concert at his friend Dak's. Tommy asks what's going on with him at S.P.D. but JJ said that they were strict about what he can say about his business, and he tells him he'll see him next weekend as his ride arrives.
Somewhere in the city, JJ gets into a fight with alien muggers, and suddenly an unknown figure approaches him. A few days later, Tommy is just about to leave after going food shopping when Anara approaches his car. She tells him that JJ has gone missing and he never showed up at Dak's. Tommy thought S.P.D. was keeping JJ busy, but Arnara says that JJ quit a few weeks ago and tells her that if something happens to him, she should go to his father and she gave him her number. Tommy tries to call JJ but to no avail. He then calls Kat asking if she has spoken to JJ which is revealed to be the previous Tuesday. Tommy explains what is going on and says he is going to speak to Sky Tate. At S.P.D. Headquarters, Tommy meets with Sky and tells him what has been going on lately but Sky tries to hide what he knows. Persistently, Tommy demands to know and Sky says it is true and adds that they'll do everything they can to find JJ and should leave the work to S.P.D.. Sometime later, Tommy calls Kat again and tells her that he is going to find their son. Kat expresses her hesitation about the idea but she also tells Tommy to be careful with "it" as Tommy states he is packed with the Master Morpher for emergencies, only.
That night, Anara and Tommy begin to tracking JJ as they come to an underground club. Tommy asks what this place had to do with JJ and Anara says that there was a man named Maurice that JJ talked to who has connections to "The Witch." Tommy gets out of the car and goes inside saying that unwelcoming spots are his thing. Inside, Tommy orders a club soda and notices a group of monsters and bribes the bartender with cash to get information, but gets into a fight forcing him to morph into Dino Thunder Black. In ranger form, Tommy is able to force info out of one of the monsters who tells him there is another gang on the west side wanting to buy what the witch is selling. Outside, Tommy forcedly is powered down. Anara examines the morpher and discovers that gear the lets the morpher quick-change between forms is blown out thus forcing Tommy only morph in a fixed order. She also notices it's destroying his power coins and that every time he morphs power coin will be destroyed. Tommy says it is worth the risk for his son. Anara asks if there is any information they can use but Tommy is hesitant about working with her and tells her she's just a kid. Anara says that JJ is her friend and she came to Tommy because no other grown up believes in her and that they need to work together.
Later, they observe a gang called the Iron Raptors arriving to meet with Maurice. He offers some crystals that give off powers. JJ arrives much to his fathers surprise offering green as a suggestion crushing the crystal in his hand changing into an ersatz green ranger. While observing from afar with Anara, Tommy posits that his son is being mind controlled only to be interrupted by a gun toting thug. Tommy is forced to morph into the Red Turbo Ranger and Maurice tells his men to attack him. As Anara is assisting Tommy, JJ attacks his father. Tommy tries to reason with him but his son escapes with Maurice and his men as the building is starting to come down. Tommy's powers protect him and Anara, but Tommy's servos in his back act up again. As she fixes Tommy's cybertnetics, he explains that during his time as a ranger, he was mind controlled without hesitation. He began to wonder if his son is doing this of his own will. Anara explains that her father worked on S.P.D. Morphers and wanted to be a ranger, but when he couldn't he passed down his dream to his daughter which she refused. It broke her fathers heart when she didn't join the A-Sqaud and she felt she let her father down. Then she tells him how hard it has been for JJ to live in his fathers shadow and the pressure he is under at S.P.D.. They then begin with what's left of the green crystal for clues.
Arriving at an apartment complex, they meet with Rita's former hand Finster who was purified after Zordon's wave and has to turned to study of fine arts. Tommy speaks to him about the crystal to see if there's anything he can do. Finster says there's enough energy to locate the source with a spell and traces it to Pasten's Tower. Finister says that the crystal has some familiar dark magic which Anara attributes to Rita Repulsa. Tommy counters, saying that Rita should have been purified when Zordon's wave hit her. Finster says that people get second chances but end up making the same mistakes. He then gives Tommy and Anara a weapon that will shut down her spell casting for several minutes, Tommy then thanks him for all of his help. At Pasten's Tower, Tommy and Anara are looking over Maurice's men and told her that Zeo is next and over time, the Zeo power has gotten stronger. Morphing into Zeo Ranger V Red, he takes down the thugs while Anara goes through the back door. JJ is there and tells her she shouldn't have come. Anara and his father are trying to help him but JJ says he is working undercover and he had to go in deep and when the time was right, he could put an end to it once and for all. Anara tells Tommy they blew the whole operation, but Tommy belittles JJ for attacking him, though JJ says he didn't have a choice. Just then, "the witch" arrives and revealed that she was not Rita, but Scorpina! Anara tries to use the device but to no use, and the fight ends with JJ captured by Scorpina, and Anara falling with Tommy to cushion her fall. Luckily, the Zeo powers are enough to save them both along with Tommy's back. They return to Finster's to find his body dead on the floor. Suddenly, they hear a voice and find a clay statue of Finster speaking. He says that Scorpina has lose ends that she wanted to tie and that it's been so long that "he" brought clay to life and that he doesn't have much time. Tommy apologizes to Finster for what happened, but he said that this was going to come back at them someday. Finster says that he did research on the dark crystals discovering they are a powerful magic beyond Rita's abilities and the only one who is powerful enough to create them is Lokar. Scorpina promises him a tribute sacrifice which will require JJ in exchange for power. As Finster's clay body begins to decay, he says that if anyone could save JJ, it is his father. Tommy realizes what he has been doing and Anara figures out a plan to save his son. Just then Tommy gets a message.
Elsewhere, JJ is tied to a boulder while Scorpina prepares the ritual. JJ questions what happened to her years ago despite the fact he is going to be sacrificed. She explains that during his father's time as a ranger, she was unfulfilled with her place with Rita. She tried to steal some of Rita's spell books but she was set up. Rita banished her to the Talos dimension and spent years bargaining with Lokar but had nothing to offer. When the Zordon Wave came and she was unaffected and she offered herself to him as an agent on Earth but with strings attached. Instead of returning when she was banished she returned decades later. Armed with the crystals to make twisted version of the Power Rangers she began her plans from scratch, allowing Lokar to feed on the chaos. Once the sacrifice is complete he will give her more power than Rita ever had. Just then, Tommy arrives as the White Ranger with S.P.D. reinforcements, the Blue Senturion, and Kat. As Tommy is fighting Scorpina, she crushes all the crystals she has to increase her power and grabs JJ. Rather than using his final morph for himself, Tommy throws the Master Morpher to his son allowing JJ to transform into the Green Ranger. JJ puts up a good fight until Lokar's voice is heard. Scorpina asks for more time but he has had enough and takes Scorpina and her recruits with him promising to return again. Anara tells JJ he is a natural at being a ranger, and he says he had a pretty good role model, hugging his family.
Weeks later at a dock, JJ asks his father if he could stick around finding a place at S.P.D. which Tommy declines deciding to find something else to do. JJ then asks if he's gonna miss all of this, Tommy says that every time he quit being a ranger, it always came back to him, but he was finally done with ranger life. Kat and Tommy praise their son to continue his work and tells him to call them more often. Anara says goodbye to Tommy and Kat as well as the boat drives off. Just then JJ gets a call saying they're need. Anara asks where, and JJ says off planet. JJ morphs into an S.P.D. Green Ranger with his father's dragon shield.
Characters
Rangers
Green Ranger
White Ranger Zeo Ranger V Red Red Turbo Ranger Black Dino Ranger |
Tommy Oliver |
| Counterfeit Green Ranger Green Ranger S.P.D. Green Dragon Ranger |
JJ Oliver |
| S.P.D. Red Ranger | Bridge Carson |
| S.P.D. Blue Ranger | Lina Song |
| S.P.D. Shadow Ranger | Anubis Cruger |
Allies
| Blue Senturion | Blue Senturion |
- David McCarthy
Villains
- Lokar
- Scorpina
- Maurice
- Evil Space Aliens (flashback)
Notes
- This is one of Kyle Higgins' last Power Rangers projects.
- Fans and comic book news sites have dubbed the story as "Old Man Tommy" as a meme, a reference to the popular X-Men story "Old Man Logan".[2]
- Despite Tommy not morphing into the Red Turbo Ranger in Dimmesions In Danger, it is revealed that the Master Morpher can allow Tommy to use those sets of powers and he just chose not to use them then.
- Soul of the Dragon revisits a concept of the Morphin Grid seen in the Color Swap Arc of Go Go Power Rangers, that each specific color of a Ranger gives a boost in a specific set of stats. The dealer of the performance enhancing crystals explains that his merchandise is almost like the real thing and goes over certain colors and what they give their user.
- Black: Enhanced Strength. Zack has been shown to be much tougher to take down in a fight than the other Rangers. One example of this is his fight against Batman in JL/MMPR, while injured, Zack was still able to hold his own for a bit before Batman successfully held him down to restrain him.
- Yellow: Enhanced Agility and Speed. This was proven true in Go Go Power Rangers, as Jason felt he was faster while his powers were in the Yellow spectrum when he outran the Breel creatures chasing him.
- Pink: Balanced stats. Enhancing combat attributes that a user may be weaker in to turn the wielder into a well rounded fighter.
- Green: Unknown, as the dealer's demonstration was interrupted by Tommy getting caught eavesdropping and causing a ruckus.
References
Footnotes