Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #108When it comes to the Power Rangers, few heroes are as beloved as the original Green Ranger. As the ultimate bad boy of the franchise, the “enemy turned ally” instantly became a staple of the franchise as soon as Tommy Oliver was welcomed into the fold. And while those Rangers are frequently more of a loner than the rest of their fellow Teenagers With Attitude, they’re always still a valuable member of the team – and the newest character to follow in these footsteps will surely be no different.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #108 by Melissa Flores, Marco Renna, Francesco Segala, and Gloria Martinelli finally unveils the truth behind the character called Vessel, revealing that Rita Repulsa’s mysterious new ally is actually the soulless body that once belonged to none other than the Power Rangers’ mentor, Zordon. After a confrontation with his other half within the Rangers’ Command Center, it’s clear that this mysterious entity is on his way to forging a destiny all his own in classic Power Rangers franchise tradition. And having been purged of Rita’s dark magic’s by Zordon, odds are that Vessel’s destiny will be on the side of Angel Grove.
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Zordon Gets A Second Chance…In A Sense
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #108 finds Vessel confronting his other half on the Astral Plane after breaching the Rangers’ base of operations. He offers Zordon the opportunity to reclaim his body and right the mistakes of his path, and it’s ultimately clear that Vessel simply feels lost and untethered as to what his ultimate destiny should be. Sensing the being’s inner turmoil and cutting him off from Repulsa’s dark machinations, Zordon gives his former body the chance to start anew, not unlike many other fan-favorite Power Rangers allies. But the fact that this ally is essentially a living reflection of the team’s mentor totally changes the game.
Like the original Green Ranger, the newest renegade Ranger joins the fold after having recognized their own sense of inner turmoil, an aimlessness that is all too frequently preyed upon by the Power Rangers’ greatest villains. Vessel is no different, but his status as a piece of Zordon essentially gives his inevitable allies, the Power Rangers, the opportunity to symbolically guide their mentor the way that he has guided them. And with the nearly limitless power at his disposal, Vessel will need all the guidance he can get if he’s going to join the Power Rangers instead of destroying them.
The Power Rangers Believe In Redemption
Since they first came together, the Power Rangers have upheld a long tradition of turning enemies to allies. What started with Zordon extending a hand to Tommy has now come full circle, essentially giving the Power Rangers the opportunity to extend a hand to Zordon. And with their newest Green Ranger pastiche on their side, there’s not much that will be able to stand in the Power Rangers’ way.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #108 is available now from BOOM! Studios.
