Voltron, Legendary Defender, #4 review

Voltron Legendary Defender is a five-issue mini-series from Lion Forge Comics that takes place immediately after episode 108, Rebirth, from the latest Voltron series that’s airing on Netflix. The content in the comic book is great for ages 9 and up because it teaches teamwork and friendship, but also has action and space travel to keep kids interested.

It’s also a very smart comic book and for that reason some kids will be attracted to it. The Voltron team members are on the hunt for the Valexian Pearl, but to find its location they have to convince the Great Universal Sphinx to assist them. The Great Universal Sphinx creates a series of tests for the team to go through that exercise their minds, as well as their bodies.

Some cosmic mushrooms are put on their heads that make them fight they way that they personally fight. So, it’s like they’re fighting themselves and to defeat one another they have to exploit their friend’s weaknesses. The next test involves a chess board where Pidge, the green one, has to play a game against herself. But how can she defeat herself when she knows exactly how she’d strategize against each move?

Each member of the team is assigned a chess piece, with Keith taking the knights, Lance is the rook, Hunk the bishops, Shiro the pawns and Pidge being the queen. See, they’re stronger together and can beat anything!

For us, any comic book that can infuse chess into the medium and make it entertaining is worth checking out. That’s one reason why Voltron Legendary Defender will appeal to certain readers. The comic is not heavy on action, but has a strong story that will interest kids 9 and up. One thing that might confuse readers is the whole team aspect of five teenagers who pilot fighting robot animals in space, but can combine them into one giant creature.

It certainly has some similarities to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, who also have a very good comic book aimed at the same demographic. This is where the battle lines begin to be drawn for children. Some will be Team Voltron, others Team Ranger, later in life it’ll be Trek or Star Wars, Middle Earth vs. science fiction.

Voltron Legendary Defender is from Lion Forge Comics and is $2.99.