Power Rangers Makes a Crucial Change To the '90s Show's Iconic Monsters
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Power Rangers Prime #2
BOOM! Studios’ newest Power Rangers series is refreshing the franchise with an all-new world, new heroes, and a revamped classic villain. That said, no Power Rangers series could be complete without the monstrosities that the villains send the Rangers’ way. However, this series’ crafted creatures aren’t quite the same as they have been in the past. This deviation in the franchise’s checkered lore could spell problems for the big bad.
In Power Rangers Prime #2 - by Melissa Flores, Michael Yg, & Fabi Marques - the series’ variant of Rita Repulsa has landed on Earth and is already releasing a world of hurt. As Rita follows the call of the Morphin Grid to Earth, the young adults destined to become the Power Rangers are none the wiser to their impending mortal enemy.
Meanwhile, Rita faces the local law enforcement and dispatches the first major monster of the series to fight. However, everything about this infernal creature defies what has been the norm in the past.
Rita Doesn't Need a Material Medium to Create Monsters
Power Rangers Prime #2 - Written by Melissa Flores; Art by Michael Yg; Color by Fabi Marques; Lettering by Ed Dukeshire; Cover by Dan Mora
Traditionally, Rita and her forces have created their monsters by either one of two ways. The most common way is for Rita to use her staff / magic to enchant objects and simple creatures into becoming monsters. If the Power Rangers proved to be too big of a problem, she would momentarily sacrifice her staff to empower her beasts to kaiju-level sizes. The second most common way is through characters like Finster, the Demon Artist. By molding malleable material like clay into the visage of monsters, Finster could use his magic to breathe life into his creations.
Once created, the monsters are supposed to remain fiercely loyal to Rita. However, in Power Rangers Prime, Rita's monsters operate differently. Unlike her predecessors, Rita doesn’t need any existing material to transform into a monster. Instead, she uses her wand to summon the beasts outright. Without the need for a material medium, Rita has already become a bigger threat than the Rita Repulsas of the past. However, while the space witch can impose her will on the monsters, that doesn’t always mean they listen.
Rita's First Monster Is Unhinged
She Can't Completely Control Her Creations
Another major difference between the new and old-school Ritas is that Power Ranger Prime’s Rita can’t completely control her creations. While continuing to fight against Angel Grove’s military forces, Rita quickly loses control after her focus is broken. The monster lashes out, turning against Rita before fizzling out and dying. This has never been something that she has struggled with before. While she has failed to manipulate the minds of others, she has always imposed absolute authority over her subjects.
When she inevitably takes on the Power Rangers, she’ll need thralls with the capacity to strategize or, at the very least, listen.
This creature, just like the woman creating them, is unhinged and uncontrollable. However, it’s powerful. If Rita is looking to cause quick chaos, then she’s already succeeding. But, when she inevitably takes on the Power Rangers, she’ll need thralls with the capacity to strategize or, at the very least, listen. So far, the series is only in its first few issues, so there is ample room for Rita’s growth as a villain alongside the budding young heroes. If she can better wrangle her monstrous pieces of living art, the Power Rangers will face a stronger Rita Repulsa than ever before.
Power Rangers Prime #2 is now available from BOOM! Studios.
- Created by
- Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, Shotaro Ishinomori
- First Film
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
- Latest Film
- Power Rangers
- First TV Show
- Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers
- Latest TV Show
- Power Rangers Cosmic Fury
- First Episode Air Date
- August 28, 1993
Power Rangers is a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series, Power Rangers became a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage from Super Sentai with new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children's franchises in the world.
