Warning: contains spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106!As their world’s greatest heroes, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have been through a lot during their time as cosmic crusaders. From foes like the evil Lord Zedd to the aptly named Rita Repulsa, the Teenagers with Attitude have taken on all comers and almost always walked away unscathed. But while the Power Rangers are usually portrayed as getting a happy ending, it turns out that’s not really the case.
Throughout Power Rangers history, dozens of Rangers have left the team behind to live the rest of their lives as normal people, each seemingly receiving a happily ever after. But according to Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106, this well-deserved retirement is more complicated than it seems. Indeed, the Rangers’ mentor Zordon is all too aware that Rangers carry major psychological scars, as shown in the issue from Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice
Power Rangers Are Essentially Child Soldiers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106 finds the titular team strategizing to defeat the dastardly Rita Repulsa, now calling herself Mistress Vile. When a disagreement in opinions abruptly ends the meeting, the Power Rangers’ ally Dr. Grace Sterling gets some one-on-one time with Zordon. While discussing the Rangers, Zordon acknowledges that while they may just be teens, they’re also soldiers. Former Red Ranger Dr. Sterling replying, “And that comes with all the benefits… PTSD. Trauma. Guilt.” Although these are sides of retired Power Rangers that the original TV show didn’t show, it makes total sense that these young heroes deal with major fallout from their time protecting the city from towering monstrosities.
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The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers portrays retired team members as leaving behind their Ranger status in uncomplicated ways. For example, the original Red, Black and Yellow Rangers left the team when they were chosen for a World Peace Conference in Switzerland, while the Pink Ranger left to train for the Pan Global Games in Florida. In these instances, the ’90s TV show suggested that the teens simply moved on with their lives when convenient, passing on their powers to another qualified candidate who could take their place protecting the planet. However, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106 confirms that these roles can’t just be shrugged off, and Rangers must deal with major psychological fallout from their service.
The Power Doesn’t Do Enough to Protect Them
After saving the universe more times than anyone can count, it’s no surprise that any Power Ranger would have a hard time adjusting to civilian life even aside from any lingering trauma they may experience. As a former Power Ranger herself, Grace Sterling would know better than anyone the kinds of struggles that await any Ranger entering retirement, having gone through them herself and still bitter over the experience. Risking their lives, engaging in constant violence, and facing unprecedented threats on a weekly basis, the Rangers are – as Zordon observes – closer to soldiers than anything else. The idea that they struggle with PTSD is no surprise, and shows how the children’s TV show exaggerated anyone’s ability to quickly and simply move on from being a Power Ranger.
The Power Rangers may be some of the galaxy’s greatest heroes, but at the end of the day, they’re still children going up against some pretty terrifying odds. With everything they’ve already gone through and will go through if they continue down the path of the hero, it’s fitting that their experiences will change them dramatically – and in admitting that fact, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers finally acknowledges the price of their immense heroism.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106 is available now from Boom! Studios
