Power Rangers General Discussion Thread

[ZakuConvoy]

The comic solicitations for March are out, and it gives us our first good look at Power Ranger Prime's new set of costumes.

Spoiler

POWER RANGERS PRIME #5 CVR A MORA (JAN250030)

Relationships are put to the test in this thrilling new issue as members of the VR Troopers and the Power Rangers team go head-to-head in a heated battle! But the VR Troopers attack as a tightly formed unit, revealing the Ranger's weakness as inexperienced, new heroes... Can they overcome...

www.previewsworld.com

There's some interesting choices happening here.

Lauren's our Red Tyrannosaurus Ranger. Although, I do notice that they're hiding her chest-symbol in all the art we've gotten of her in this suit so far. Every picture she's showing off her weapon, but also conveniently covering her chest-symbol. So, maybe there's a twist coming for which Ranger she actually is.

But, the rest aren't just redesigns of the Mighty Morphin cast, like I halfway expected. We're getting something all new.

A Blue Unicorn Ranger. Which almost makes sense, given the Thunderzords.

A Purple Velociraptor (?) Ranger.

A Black Cobra (?) Ranger. I THINK a see a hood in that chest-symbol, but all of them are "cracked", so it's hard to say for sure.

And a Yellow...something? A Eagle? A Griffon? A Turtle? Something with a beak. It could be a Squid for all I know. I'm having a hard time parsing what it is.

And honestly, maybe it's just the Unicorn, but it's kind of reminding me of the new Super Sentai team we'll be getting in the future, Gozyuger. I know it's a coincidence, having a team of different, seemingly unrelated animals. But, it's a odd coincidence.

FIRST LOOK: No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger!

The first image of the 49th team is finally here! This is the - a five member team consisting of: Behind the team is a golden-armed figure; perhaps the first Mecha for the season? Only time will tell! Stay tuned to TokuNation for further details on this new Super Sentai series!

news.tokunation.com

Kind of makes me wonder what they'll end up doing for the Green/Sixth Ranger if and when they show up in the comic.




Also, have a look at our new VR Troopers. Maybe it's just how Dan Mora is drawing them, but I'm pretty sure they're getting a redesign, too.

POWER RANGERS PRIME #4 CVR A MORA (DEC240089)

An epic battle ensues between the new Prime Red Ranger and deadly VR Troopers, but not without a little help from a familiar foe... In a dire moment, Rita Repulsa sacrifices the last of her wand's strength to create the keys to their survival... but will it be enough to save the teens from capture?

www.previewsworld.com

POWER RANGERS PRIME #5 CVR C ANNIVERSARY VAR MONTES (JAN250032)

Relationships are put to the test in this thrilling new issue as members of the VR Troopers and the Power Rangers team go head-to-head in a heated battle! But the VR Troopers attack as a tightly formed unit, revealing the Ranger's weakness as inexperienced, new heroes... Can they overcome...

www.previewsworld.com

Honestly, I'm just tickled that this is happening. But, Dan Mora's art does make these guys look pretty slick! This is probably the most love VR Troopers has gotten since...maybe ever, honestly!

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Okay, I was wondering if they would...

Spoiler

...create a team of mixed and maxed Rangers from all across the franchise, in terms of their morphed forms/powers, but apparently not?

 

[ZakuConvoy]

Spoiler

Well, they might be doing something similar.

Like I said, at the very least the "Unicorn" seems to line up with the Thunderzords to a certain extent.

Thunder Megazord (Mighty Morphin)

The Thunder Megazord was the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' second primary Megazord, created by merging the five Thunderzords: the Red Dragon, Lion, Unicorn, Griffin and Firebird Thunderzords, which were all transformed from the Dinozords. The Rangers piloted the Thunder Megazord from the green...

powerrangers.fandom.com

And there has been "Snake" Zords, even if there never was a corosponding ranger.

Gosei Great Megazord

"Mechazords" redirects here. For the single Zord from the Boom Studios comics, see Mechazord. Gosei Great Megazord is the first Megazord used by the Megaforce Rangers in Power Rangers Megaforce, a combination of the five Mechazords. The Rangers utilize this Megazord against Tresnag in Power...

powerrangers.fandom.com

Ninja Blaze Megazord

The Ninja Blaze Megazord is the final Megazord of the Ninja Rangers. It is made up of six Zords. During the combination, the six zords chase the Zord Star while combining. The Tortoise Zord's back area folds up to reveal a pair of ports, which the Tiger and Panda Zords connect to by levitating...

powerrangers.fandom.com

Chronos HyperForce Megazord

The Chronos HyperForce Megazord is the main Megazord of the HyperForce Rangers. It is made up of five Hyper Force Zords: Lion Hyper Zord, Serpent Hyper Zord, Ram Hyper Zord, Cerberus Hyper Zord and Phoenix Hyper Zord. to be added Appearances: HyperForce Episodes 7, 10 The Chronos HyperForce...

powerrangers.fandom.com

We have had Raptor Zords before, even if one is only vaguely purple-ish.

Raptor Zord

The Raptor Zord is the sentient personal Zord of the Dino Charge Green Ranger. It possesses the spirit of the Velociraptor that was given the Green Energem 65 million years ago, just before Sledge's ship electro-net was disabled when his ship was bombed and the meteors therein caused the...

powerrangers.fandom.com

Cosmic Combo Raptor Zords

The Cosmic Combo Raptor Zords are a pair of Velociraptor-based Zords comprised of the Light Raptor Zord and the Shadow Raptor Zord in Power Rangers Dino Fury.[1] The Cosmic Combo Raptor Zords consist of the Light Raptor Zord and the Shadow Raptor Zord and resemble a mechanical Velociraptor. The...

powerrangers.fandom.com

So, while it's unlikely that they're taking powers from all across the franchise, it's not impossible, either. It's possible that the theme could be "Rangers for Zords who never got their own specific Ranger before". I don't know if I'd bet on that, but I can't discount the idea at the moment, either. It would be kind of a neat thing to do.

But, most likely, this is just an all new team made up from whole cloth.

 

[LordGigaIce]

 

[lastmaximal]

I was excited to see these announced, but something just isn't working for me with the designs. There's just some artfulness that was in the first two that's missing from these, and the pretty bleh helmet on the morphed Ken is particularly underwhelming.

I can't quite put my finger on what I'd like to have gotten instead. Maybe a more distinct helmet that doesn't look like a mildly tweaked MMPR Red helmet. Maybe even have a retooled version of Ryu's, which has a very distinct visor, with a different execution of the bird themed top.

And while I understand the desire to make the arms different so it's not just Red Ranger arms, idk if "let's just give him bare/unmorphed arms and Ken gloves" was the best way to go either. Maybe go ahead with the solid dark red for the whole bodysuit, or go SFV and make it a black upper body with red trim (and the current gold piping). Then give him clear orange gloves and boots (with some black and white paint so they look like they're the base colors catching fire) AND a clear orange shield (rather than gold), to run with his burning supers motif.

Cammy I have no idea what to do with rn. Although I like how the bodysuit reminds me of her Alpha 3 look.

 

[LordGigaIce]

I was excited to see these announced, but something just isn't working for me with the designs. There's just some artfulness that was in the first two that's missing from these, and the pretty bleh helmet on the morphed Ken is particularly underwhelming.

I can't quite put my finger on what I'd like to have gotten instead. Maybe a more distinct helmet that doesn't look like a mildly tweaked MMPR Red helmet. Maybe even have a retooled version of Ryu's, which has a very distinct visor, with a different execution of the bird themed top.

And while I understand the desire to make the arms different so it's not just Red Ranger arms, idk if "let's just give him bare/unmorphed arms and Ken gloves" was the best way to go either. Maybe go ahead with the solid dark red for the whole bodysuit, or go SFV and make it a black upper body with red trim (and the current gold piping). Then give him clear orange gloves and boots (with some black and white paint so they look like they're the base colors catching fire) AND a clear orange shield (rather than gold), to run with his burning supers motif.

Cammy I have no idea what to do with rn. Although I like how the bodysuit reminds me of her Alpha 3 look.

Thing is Ken and Cammy aren't from the games. Ryu and Chun-Li had the benefit of having their looks worked on all through development. Ken and Cammy were basically Hasbro going "ok what else can we milk out of this?"
That goes a long way to explaining why so much of their look feels kinda... also ran. That being said, Cammy's Ranger helmet working her beret in is very clever.

Truth is, I was going to skip all of the Power Rangers X Street Fighter figures. I only picked Cammy and Ken up because they were each being sold for 50% off, so I could get the two of them for the price of one.

They make a nice team as a novelty. I'm kinda considering picking up Ryu and Chun-Li now, just to finish the set out. Problem is I'm comparing these to the six inch Jada Street Fighter figures and good G-d. Jada is lapping Hasbro in the six inch figure game. At a comparable price point.

 

[lastmaximal]

Oh, I know. And it does show in the difference in designs. It's unfortunate as Hasbro was at least willing to spend some money on some retooling and experiment a bit.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1880434098461897026

 

[LordGigaIce]

Oh, I know. And it does show in the difference in designs. It's unfortunate as Hasbro was at least willing to spend some money on some retooling and experiment a bit.

I know it's unfair to compare Ken and Cammy to Ryu and Chun-Li because the latter two had actual game designers work on their Ranger looks while the former two didn't... but still. Standing Jada Ken and Cammy next to their Power Ranger figures really does show how behind Hasbro is on the six inch game.

The shame of it is that there are good idea in Ken and Cammy's Rangers designs. Subtly alluding to Cammy's Alpha outfit with hers, using lightning bolts on her legs to call back to her usual leg camo paint, the helmet beret, and the way the typical MMPR boot pattern is worked into her army boots are all really clever. It's just that on the whole these neat concepts are either a bit too subtle or just not coming together. The gold shield looks tacked on, her Power Coin is a featureless blob... it's so close and just falls a bit short.

Ken likewise has a few good ideas. His belt and gloves all call back to his classic design nicely, while still fitting the general theme of the crossover's shared aesthetic, and his suit detailing actually does a better job of matching Ryu and Chun-Li's suit detailing better than Cammy's. I can also buy that of the four, it would be Ken to rip his sleeves off his Ranger suit

But then you have his and Cammy's helmets, with Ken's being a barely altered MMPR Red helmet, and Kammy's being a MMPR Pink helmet with the beret added. The beret is a brilliant touch, but it kind of exemplifies a problem. A good idea that's hamstrung by being stuck on an also-ran design, like the team was told "hey that's a great idea. Make it worth with these limited options. No we won't pay for extra tooling."

I probably wouldn't have gotten either of these if they were full price, but I essentially got two for the price of one, and at that deal I can't be too mad. They're neat novelty figures, if lacking in ambition.

 

[lastmaximal]

That's largely why I kept my suggestions to tooling that was already available (Ryu's helmet, or even a non-MMPR Ranger helmet, regular Ranger arms), just exploring color changes to set it apart (I genuinely think the clear orange with some highlights would do better). Again the Cammy I still have no real better ideas, but I'd probably try to avoid slapping a beret on top of a helmet.

But I can see what they were going for, more of a "translate their existing looks onto Ranger bodies" with a less good execution compared to the first two. It's a tricky balance, and not everything can be as neat a fit as Morphed Shredder, which is awesome.

Still, totally get what you mean about picking them up on the cheap. For everything I've said so far i'd be hard pressed to pass those up at that price.

I do wish Hasbro had better care for and handling of this franchise. I was glad that they had gotten it, because they'd proven adept at 6-inch figures, at balancing kid- and adult-oriented toylines, having articulated robots, and even making replica/roleplay stuff. Idk anything about sales and such that might have contributed to its canning, but it feels like Lightning Collection could have been something they low-key kept going. Fewer crossovers (and honestly maybe even less monsters), get it more focused. Even if they eventually had to pivot to box sets just to get entire teams out the door.

 

[LordGigaIce]

but I'd probably try to avoid slapping a beret on top of a helmet.

Cammy's helmet beret is actually my favourite part about her. It's integrated enough into the helmet and honestly? It's the kind of fun goofy various Super Sentai and Kamen Rider shows have gone with now and then.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

ICYMI: https://poisonmushroom.org/2025/01/...es-mighty-morphin-power-rangers-ritas-rewind/