Kamen America… gets a part 2 post. Continuing on from the last saga, this bit confronts the pressure of needing to take the next step forward. In a time when a lot of bad actors make this feel like more work, it’s like walking on eggshells. But the important thing for the average person to do is recognize their efforts that everyone else doesn’t. Because people tend to lose sight of genuine efforts if they’re not using popular keywords.
Kamen America Part 2: Need To Know
The Kamen Corps have long become a recognizable brand, appearing on different avenues from ball games to fashion runways. But now a new threat has come to disrupt all of that. Not the seemingly alien robots attacking different corners of the world, but the first line of defense against them. The Power Ranger wannabes with powers like the Kamen Corps are very popular in their debut thanks to their brand manger. Tragically, it’s the title heroine’s ex-agent Niro Lansky, a shameless profiteur who manages to deflect any controversies around him or the Zenenrangers with buzzword-enhanced bluffs. It doesn’t help they’re financially backed by Cynthia Prestige, Kamen Rocket’s stepmother. With her money and connections, she can influence a lot of powerful people.
Comfort Zones
The crux of this saga in Kamen America revolves around comfort zones, growth, and authenticity. By focusing on individual characters rather than background influences, readers can feel the pressures and expectations on them. For Carly Vanders, she’s under a lot of pressure from the public for the Kamen Corps to go global. Because the Zenenrangers make that trendy. But Carly is reluctant to do any corporate practice after dealing with Lansky’s greed. Tragically that also means not accepting financial aid from Kamen Ramen’s company. Despite the fact that Kimiko genuinely wants to help her friends in the Kamen Corps.
A similar thing echoes in one of Carly’s best friends and her brand manager Sigmund. Siggy always had a crush on Carly and it looks like she felt the same at points. But neither of them acted on their feelings, probably because they felt too comfortable. So what happens? Siggy starts to fumble in his relationship with Misha which annoys her and Carly.
Are You in the Mob?
Do you have any ships you want to push Pellegrini and Lim to pursue?
…
“Do you want Siggy to end up with Carly or Misha?” Is what I’m saying.
Because if you tell them that, then you might sound like the mobs the Kamen Corps deals with. Annoying, ungrateful, and pushing for things people don’t feel ready for. Not to mention very exploitable. It’s all too easy to give crowds what they want in the moment. Like easy solutions to complex problems when they sound like they make sense. All the while letting themselves become walls of echo chambers to block out important questions.
Here’s one that Sylvia Prestige should have asked earlier: How long was her stepmother in on all of this? Because despite her protests, it looks like Cynthia went along with Lansky since the beginning. She even fills in her step-daughter’s role as the self-dubbed Kamen Unity, a knockoff identity based on Sylvia’s suits. Much like Sylvia, Cynthia started with good intentions ever since she was a nurse for Sylvia’s sickly father. But after marrying into the Prestige family, Cynthia’s attempts to be everything Sylvia needed twisted her. Unlike Sylvia who recognized her limits and biases trying to be a better version of Kamen America last chapter, Cynthia crosses every line to grow her influence. For what reason? Probably saving that for part 3.
Kamen America Part 2: Everybody On The Same Page?
As for the Zenenrangers, unlike the Kamen Corps, they don’t really work like a team so much as perform as one. Despite an international cast championing inclusion and big pictures, their technopath is a casual racist. The only one who’s remotely heroic is their pyrokinetic. But he doesn’t seem to be aware that his teammates were involved in smear campaigns. He even destroyed possible evidence not because it threatened the team, but their mission. Laymen’s terms, he’s just another useful idiot Cynthia exploits like the mobs. Why? Because he looked shocked when the technopath mocked the idea that they were doing any good. All they really have is good PR.
As for the Kamen Corps, despite some frictions they do work together and around their limitations. Like when Carly works with Misha for their design label to partner with Kimiko’s family corporation. Instead of letting all of the Corps responsibilities be handled by who’s got the most money or influence; they’re more like a co-op. This allows the corps to help each other out when their backs are against the wall. Something that Cynthia didn’t really plan for or care when she tries to recruit them.
What Is Growth?
In this day and age it’s easy to look at growth as the be all, end all. But growth doesn’t always mean bigger and better. That’s probably best seen through Sylvia and her relationship with Cynthia and the Prestige corporation. Sylvia takes pride in her family’s business as well as the people who make it up. She has faith that while corporations get a bad rep with the Lansky’s of the world, they don’t have to fit that mold.
So when her stepmother uses public relations to manipulate people, it doesn’t just shake Sylvia’s faith in her but what her family has become. Which can tug at readers hearts when flashbacks show that Sylvia had a lonely childhood, unable to make lasting friends because they were intimidated by her status and Cynthia became the only person left to care for her. So with the ending of Kamen America Part 2 Sylvia is going to have to make a hard choice. Because growing out of something means you can’t have it all.
The Model Example
Meanwhile the best example of growth is Vicky Kaminsky. For most of this saga, she’s off-panel due to crossover appearances with lower power and confidence. This status is felt by everybody including her friends and family. Especially with Vicky’s father since he suspected something was wrong, but is very understanding of the places people are in. Including Carly who is still taking Vicky’s absence hard, including needing to legally tell Vicky’s dad half-truths. When Vicky does show up again, her Vermillion Masquerade persona doesn’t give off the same release it once did; she looks more withdrawn than ever. So when she talks to her father, who always believed in Vicky despite her faults, Vicky’s able to overcome the insecurities from Part 1 as Kamen Terra.
Kamen America Part 2: Principles of Authenticity
At the heart of Kamen America is authenticity and how it can twist when paired with transparency. As every villain in Kamen America Part 2 shows, acting good looks more rewarding than doing good. With a camera, trends, and good publicity, it’s easier to fool everyone including themselves that they’re in the right. Honestly intelligent, but that makes it more rotten. Unlike Carly who never bends her principles, even if she does get a bit reckless. Like accusations that lead to losing half-baked evidence in a confrontation. But it’s her efforts and willingness to work with others who can connect with her on some level that Carly manages to stay afloat. Between the Kamen Corps, Black Hops, Kaneko Ramen, a nosy reporter, and her parents, Carly has the best support.
That’s all thanks in no small part to her father who despite his short time, makes a great impression. Since the beginning, Carly’s dad has always been supportive to Carly, her friends, and even complete strangers. In fact, remember the Zenenranger’s technopath? While they don’t meet long, Carly’s dad pushes something in her that she never knew she had. Especially when her employer is ready to leave her for dead. Something to look forward to in Part 3.
I Pledge Allegiance
Kamen America Part 2 is a great followup to the first saga by sticking to the series strengths. While the characters are in a good place from making names for themselves, the pressure to grow is everywhere. Some people won’t be ready for it, but coming out of your comfort zone is always necessary. That never means you should rush out because of people’s demands. Otherwise, you’re not putting in any real effort, you’re just putting on a show. Kind of like if people try to twist the events of this saga into something it’s not.
The creators Tim Lim and Mark Pellegrini always make sure they work with people on the same page as them. Like their publishing deal with Antarctic Press to give Kamen America a bigger audience. Their imprint Iconic Comics was a great first step, but they can’t get complacent. Along with the webtoons, they’re ready for a big world to share their favorite characters with anyone interested.
If you’re a new fan or hopeful, all I can say is you’re in for a great time.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.