“Yesterday’s” Comic> Saban Powerhouse: Into The Fire

The origin of Kalishplosions.

Saban Powerhouse: Power Rangers Turbo: Into The Fire

Acclaim Books (no cover date)

Saban Powerhouse is a series of digest-sized anthology comics for kids. They also did one full-length special teaming the Turbo Rangers and Beetleborgs Metallix, which we’ll get to soon enough, and one set in their version of the Valiant universe. And it’s still better than the Marvel “two stories per comic” offerings we’ve reviewed.

The Turbo Rangers make their comic debut when Justin must overcome his fear of fire just as Divatox teams with fire creatures from another dimension who need the power of a volcano in downtown Angel Grove. This is while Bulk and Skull were chimpanzees due to events behind the scenes, and they get a funny moment trying to prove they’re transformed humans (thanks to events in Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie) by fighting fires. I didn’t even realize it was a short story. But what was with Kat’s hair? Did she forget to comb it before going to school that day?

Masked Rider gets some help from his Earth family when Dregon drops a series of giant pylons he needs to open a portal to launch a full-scale invasion as he did on Edenoi. This was closer to the show than the Marvel special but lacked the elements that hurt the show. This one I knew was short but it didn’t need to be any longer than it was.

I should explain the concept of Samurai Pizza Cats since it’s the first time it’s come up besides an offhand comment. The Pizza Cats–Speedy Ceviche, Polly Ester, and Guido Anchovy–run a pizza parlor in cyborg anthropomorphic city of Little Tokyo when they aren’t fighting Big Cheese’s plans to take control from Emperor Fred. This is the most sane explanation I can come up with for a show where getting drunk was replaced with too much MSG because the translations they had were terrible and they made it goofier than the original..which doesn’t appear to be all that serious to begin with to me.

For example, this story finds Big Cheese opening a miniature golf course in order to convince Fred to give up the emperor business and turn pro mini-golfer. Speedy must find the skill to put the golf ball in the dragon’s mouth in order to save everyone, which convinces Fred to remain emperor. Like I said, the show is nuts and this is a faithful adaptation of the show. Even the art look like the cartoon, right down to Speedy’s Ginsu Sword pose, although the letterer did misspell the male Cats’ names.

Actually, all three stories are the best adaptation since the early Hamilton comics. Fans of these shows should check this one out.