Toybox REVIEW: Power Rangers Lightning Collection Zeo Yellow Ranger

Release Date: February 2022

RRP: $22.99/£23.99

As the Power Rangers Lightning Collection continues to chug along comfortably, another fan-favourite team draws to completion. Following on directly from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers it isn't any surprise that Power Rangers Zeo is another series that Hasbro were quick to complete, with the Lightning Collection Zeo Yellow Ranger being the fifth member of the team to be released as part of the general retail waves. The only one outstanding was the Pink Ranger, who was released alongside yet another version of MMPR Pink in special two-pack set. Whether she'll join the others as a single release any time soon is anyone's guess, but it's nice to know the whole Zeo team is out there for those looking to grab them.

The Lightning Collection's days are numbered when it comes to windowed boxes but for the time being the Zeo Yellow Ranger comes in the packaging we're all familiar with, sporting that wonderful headshot artwork from StrongStuffTom. Alongside that on the front there's that big window to show off the figure inside, and then on the back you'll find the familiar CG render of the figure in an action pose. Inside Tanya is neatly stored alongside all her accessories on a moulded plastic tray.

After repeated releases of the male body it's quite a refreshing change of pace to see one of the Zeo girls at long last, with the female body suiting the Power Rangers Zeo suit design rather well. Despite how easy it would be for the two colours to get lost in one another the painted gold sections do stand out from the yellow rather well, which is partly thanks to the white areas helping to break them up a bit. Overall the Zeo suits are relatively simple compared to other Rangers, with the important details being in concentrated areas rather than spread across the body. But those areas – such as all the detailing on the gold areas, have been moulded and painted nicely.

The figure shares the same body and articulation as the rest of the female rangers released in the line so far, bringing all the good and the bad of that mould along with it. Altogether Zeo Yellow features; 

- Ball jointed head, torso and hips

- Single hinge neck and ab crunch 

- Swivel hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists and ankles 

- Double hinge knees 

- Thigh and boot swivels

What's left to say about this that hasn't been said already? What articulation the figure has certainly does the job but compared to the sturdier frame and varied movement of the male body it's hard not to feel short-changed. Hopefully things will get better for female figures going forwards in the line, but that doesn't really help all the girls that have already been produced. Still, you can still get some great poses out of Zeo Yellow, most importantly ones that make full use of her varied array of weaponry. One curious thing I noticed about my copy of the figure is that the inside of the upper torso was much more exposed without careful positioning of the torso, almost as if it was a little shorter than it is on other figures. It's not something I can say I've noticed on other figures, and may just be an issue on my copy – but felt worth mentioning nonetheless.

Zeo Yellow comes packaged with two alternate hands (giving her a pair of weapon holding hands and a pair of open knifestrike hands in total), extended Zeo Power Pod Sword, Zeo Laser Pistol, a translucent yellow blast effect for said pistol and finally the Zeo II Power Clubs. The effect part is exactly the same one that was included with both the Red and Green Zeo Rangers (and even the same colour as the one included with the latter), which just goes to show that there isn't a whole lot of thought or variety that's going into those parts any more. The sword and pistol are identical to the ones included with the other Zeo Rangers – nicely moulded and painted in all the correct colours. The Power Pod Sword only coming in its extended form when it's meant to be holstered compacted continues to be irritating, but that wasn't going to change with the team nearing completion/completed. As was the case with the Red and Green Rangers the inclusion of the personalised weapon is definitely appreciated, though the paint apps on the Power Clubs are rather lacking. While the silver parts midway down the grips have been painted silver, sadly the ends and chain part remain an unpainted yellow. Missing paint apps isn't uncommon with these figures, but it is a bit of a shame given that there's bits of silver on them anyway – not to mention the fact it's missing in places where it wouldn't just instantly rub off.

Rounding off the accessories is of course an alternate Tanya Sloan head, which has a pretty good likeness to actress Nakia Burrise. Credit where it's due the likeness on this is pretty great – perhaps the best out of all the Zeo Rangers and definitely among the better ones Hasbro has put out. The hair doesn't even have too much impact on the neck articulation, which is a nice surprise. To Hasbro's credit the alternate heads on the Zeo figures have been pretty good, with the exception of poor Rocky who seems to have been shafted in multiple ways.

The Lightning Collection Zeo Yellow Ranger is pretty much par for the course for the line at this stage – doing the things it does well very well but also having all the usual complaints present. With the line soon to debut a new female body as part of the colour swap MMPR Red and Yellow Ranger set the sooner that is utilised across the board the better, while the repeated gripes that have appeared across all the Zeo Rangers haven't gotten any less frustrating. But ultimately the figure itself is a very welcome addition to the Zeo team, with the combination of the personal sidearm and well-sculpted alternate head elevating the figure above mediocrity.