Fans of the original 1990s Power Rangers TV series will look at the series in a different light when they learn that one of first Rangers was friends with a surprising character – as one comic story has revealed the early adolescent friendship between Billy Cranston and Skull, one half of Angel Grove’s infamous bully duo.

Go Go Power Rangers #3 – written by Ryan Parrott, with art by Dan Mora – establishes the previously unknown childhood friendship between Skull and Billy. This is particularly notable given the fact that on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers show, Billy was a common target of the bullies Bulk and Skull whenever he was in civilian mode.

The comic devotes time to exploring the deep connection between Billy and Skull, adding a sad wrinkle of new context to Skull’s bullying, while further emphasizing the importance of friendship as an underlying theme in Power Rangers stories across all mediums.

Billy and Skull Were Childhood Best Friends

Go Go Power Rangers #3 – Written By Ryan Parrott; Art By Dan Mora, Raul Angulo, & Ed Dukeshire

Before he was the ultimate Blue Ranger for the Power Rangers, and before he’d become a constant target of Bulk and Skull’s unkindness, Billy was the best of friends with the latter half of that duo. In fact, the opening flashback of Go Go Power Rangers #3 reveals that they saw each other as brothers. The comic doesn’t specify exactly how their falling out occurred, but it can be assumed that, as so many childhood friendships tend to go, a difference in direction from both parties could be enough to cause a split.

It might be safe to assume that Bulk was a bad influence on Skull, but Skull’s bully of a brother may have had a bigger influence. If one thing is certain, it’s that this secret origin story paints Billy and Skull’s scenes on the Power Rangers television show in a new light. Now, the Power Rangers interactions between Skull and Billy don’t just show a delinquent bullying the nerdy character because he’s an easy target. It’s a former childhood friend lashing out at someone he used to be close to.

Friendship Is A Pivotal Theme In The Power Rangers Mythos

Skull Loses Sight Of Its Importance

The themes of friendship revolving around this reveal don’t begin and end with this issue. They continue going into the next issue by expanding on why friendship and a specific self-awareness makes someone the ideal candidate to be a Power Ranger. After a string of missions where the Black Ranger fills in as a leader in the Red Ranger’s place, Zack asks Zordon why Jason was picked as the permanent leader instead of himself. Zordon explains it’s because Jason used to be a bully, but changed his attitude before his evil potential worsened.

As often as it’s speculated how great of Power Rangers that Bulk and Skull would make, Skull seemingly doesn’t have what it takes to become a Ranger because he lacks the self-awareness it takes to be a pure individual. In childhood, Skull shared the same heart and morals as Billy, until he was ultimately corrupted. While Bulk and Skull eventually unlearn their bad behavior, it took a long road of personal growth to see the error of their ways. Real Rangers figure it out sooner. However, if he remained friends with Billy, Skull might’ve ended up as one of the Power Rangers.