Twenty six years ago, Marvel broke all kinds of comic book sales records with the relaunch of the X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee. At the time, releasing X-Men #1 with multiple covers that combined into a larger image was a rare thing in comics. Now, it’s a lot more common, and Lee’s cover is among the most famous images in comic book history. While Lee is currently the co-publisher of DC and unlikely to draw the X-Men professionally any time soon, his legacy is getting an unexpected homage this summer.
Boom! Studios has revealed that artist Dan Mora has used Lee’s cover as the basis for four interconnecting San Diego Comic-Con exclusive covers for Saban’s Power Rangers. More specifically, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #17 SDCC Exclusive, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2017 Annual #1 SDCC, Go Go Power Rangers #1 SDCC A, and Go Go Power Rangers #1B SDCC B feature the rangers, Zordon, Alpha 5, and Rita Repulsa in place of Marvel’s mutant heroes and Magneto. It’s a pretty striking image, but it won’t be cheap.
Also: Look Inside Justice League/Power Rangers # 1
For comparison’s sake, here’s a remastered and recolored edition of Lee’s cover that was released a few years ago by Marvel.
If you want the Power Rangers SDCC exclusive covers, Boom! Studios is charging $20 each. There will also be a fifth SDCC exclusive: Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers #1 Double Gatefold; and that one will cost you $100.
Here’s the thing about variant covers: they’re not really inherent valuable, despite what comic book companies want you to believe. So if you were to rush down to Comic-Con to pick up these comics with the expectation that you can resell them for more money, then it’s a risky bet. There may be some fans who are willing to pay more, but it’s probably a better idea to buy them just to appreciate the covers as a work of art. No matter how limited the covers are, they’re not an investment. It’s simply something that you can enjoy. Personally, I think the Power Rangers cover would look great as a poster, or lined up on a wall with four issues side-by-side. But your mileage may vary.
What did you think about the Power Rangers SDCC exclusive covers? Let us know in the comment section below!
