warning: preview images ahead for Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #102!
One of the most iconic villains of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers franchise, Rita Repulsa, is being rebranded in a big way. In the show, Rita debuts as the Rangers’ first main antagonist, continuing to be a thorn in the Rangers’ side on a weekly basis. She’d spend the next couple of seasons as a recurring enemy. Though as the show went on, she became more and more campy, making it easy for audiences to forget how much of a threat she was in the first season. She returns to her original roots in a bigger, darker way for the comics’ continuity.
In the previous issue of BOOM! Studios’ Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers comic books, the Rangers receive an unexpected distress signal from Lord Zedd of all people. Despite their differences, understanding that they could be walking into a trap, the team begrudgingly heads to the moon to investigate. There, they are surprised to find Goldar being attacked by an onslaught of upgraded Putties. When they enter the Moon Palace, they find Zedd on the brink of death fallen at the feed of a returning Rita Repulsa.
Rita Repulsa’s New Mistress Vile Identity Brings Her Back To Her Roots.
What makes this rebranding so interesting is that the name Mistress Vile echoes the name of her father, Master Vile, another recurring villain who joined the show in its third season. Much like the rebranded Mistress Vile, Master Vile made an immediate impact by defeating the Rangers and reverting them into children. By evoking his name, the former Rita Repulsa is completely committing to her symbolic rebranding.
Not only is Mistress Vile returning to her roots spiritually back to the type of threat posed when she first debuted, but she is also quite literally returning to the roots she was raised from. Taking out the Power Rangers all on her own also showcases how this is already the most powerful and dangerous the character has ever been portrayed. Catch more of the former Rita Repulsa in action when Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers #102 by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice hits local comic bookshops and digital stores starting on November 23, 2022.
