Power Rangers is a series of various comic books spun off from the Power Rangers television show. Each series was published by a different comic book publisher.[1][2][3]
A three issue Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Saga mini-series recapped stories from the TV series. Originally planned as six issues, it was abbreviated when the license moved to Marvel Comics.[4]
Two Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series were published concurrently. The first debuted October 1995 and ran for seven issues. The second, titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ninja Rangers/VR Troopers, was a flip book featuringVR Troopers on the other side; it debuted December 1995 and ran for five issues.
The Power Rangers made a guest appearance in a one-shot Masked Rider comic book, also published by Marvel.
Image Comics (1996)
In 1996, Image Comics published a comic book based on Power Rangers Zeo. It was written by Mary Bierbaum and Tom Bierbaum, with art by Todd Nauck, Norm Rapmund and Laura Penton. Four issues were drawn, but only one was released before Image Comics lost the license.[5]
A crossover comic with Youngblood was announced but no issues were published.[6]
One of the issues, By Bug... Betrayed, was controversial because of a panel depicting Trini Kwan getting hit by a car. Her real-life actress, Thuy Trang, died in a car crash twelve years before the issue was published. The digital re-release replaces her with Kimberly Hart in an edited version.
In February 2016, Boom! announced a spin-off limited series entitled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Pink by Brenden Fletcher, Kelly Thompson, and Daniele Di Nicuolo.[8]
In April 2017, Boom! announced a prequel series titled Saban's Go Go Power Rangers by Ryan Parrott and Dan Mora.[9] In December 2017, Boom Studios announced "Shattered Grid", a crossover story line between Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Saban'sGo Go Power Rangers, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of Power Rangers.[10]
In July 2018, Hasbro became the new owner of the Power Rangers franchise.[11]
In December 2019, a crossover between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics by IDW Publishing and Boom!'s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series titled Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja was released. It had been the second crossover with Boom!'s series after the one with Justice League, Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, two years prior.
In March 2019, Boom! announced "Necessary Evil", the second crossover event between Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Saban'sGo Go Power Rangers, written by Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace.[12] Following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over comic book industry, the event concluded in June 2020, with Saban'sGo Go Power Rangers ending after 32 issues.[13]
The monthly Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series concluded in October 2020 after 55 issues. Two new series titled Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers launched in November featuring a new storyline, "Unlimited Power," with Parrott writing both.[14][15]
In August 2021, "The Eltarian War" was announced as the conclusion of the "Unlimited Power" event, along with the limited series Power Rangers Universe.[16] Mat Groom became the writer of Mighty Morphin following this crossover.[17]
In April 2022, it was announced that both Mighty Morphin and Power Rangers series would end in August 2022 as part of a special crossover event titled "Charge to 100!"[18] The event would then conclude in September 2022 with the relaunched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #100, as well as being the final issue written by Ryan Parrott.[18][19]
In July 2022, it was announced that Melissa Flores would serve as the new writer with art by Simona Di Gianfelce.[20]
From 2012 to 2015, Panini Comics produced a revival of the official Power Rangers Magazine in the United Kingdom. The magazine featured short comic strips based on Power Rangers Samurai, Power Rangers Super Samurai, Power Rangers Megaforce and Power Rangers Super Megaforce.
Sales
The first issue of the 2016 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic sold approximately 100,000 copies.[21]
Reception
The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic has gained mostly positive critical reviews.[22][23][24][25][26]
