Introduction

August 31, 1999

This originally appeared as the text pages in the comic book Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Saga #3, the final issue, which was published by Hamilton Comics in 1996. I was the main writer of Hamilton's Power Rangers comics, and I suspect the reason for that might have been that I honestly enjoyed the TV show, especially the first season, which I found loads of fun in a goofy sort of way. (One other writer who'd been asked to submit plots for the comic book referred to the necessity of watching the show as "suffering for my art". He wound up not writing any of the comics.)

The Saga series was an attempt to achieve two goals — first, to summarize the entire back-story from the TV series in a handy comic-book form (practically impossible, there was so much of it, but I did manage to get most of it in — at the expense of the sanity of several artists, who had to draw what I wrote); and second, to tell what I think was the best Power Rangers story I ever came up with — and the only one I thought worthy of serializing over two or more issues.

The first goal was reasonably well achieved. This piece was an attempt to compensate for the fact that the series was aborted before getting around to the second.

— DDM

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

in

“The Menace from Within”

by Don Markstein

As I look over the script for this issue, the expression "This one has it all!" comes to mind. It isn't quite true, but look at what this issue does have.

It has Rita. It has Zedd. It has the original Rangers. It has the current Rangers. It has the original Zords. It has the first replacement Zords. Tommy appears as both the Green Ranger and the White Ranger. It doesn't have Ivan Ooze or the third-season Zords, but hey — is there any other single story, in any medium, that has as many separate Power Rangers elements as this one comic book?

What you don't see in this issue, you would have seen in future issues of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Saga, but for one unfortunate circumstance — there aren't any. It was planned as a six-issue series, but a variety of factors — including several very complex behind-the-scenes re-shufflings within the comic-book industry — dictated that it be cut off at three.

Needless to say, I'm disappointed. Not just because I don't get a chance to bring the Saga right up to the present (or as close to present as our lead time will allow), but also because I was telling a story of my own in this series, and now, it's never going to have a chance to be told.

A story of my own? Look back over these three issues. They're just about chock-full of the primary story I was dealing with — the history of the Power Rangers, as told in key episodes of the TV show (dubbed for me by David Crowe, who also supplied an episode guide). And what a mass of story that is!

I not only wrote more panels per page, on average, than is usually considered desirable in a superhero comic book — I also had more than one thing happening in many of the panels. There were separate actions going on in foreground and background . . . panels in which key story elements appeared on TV screens or the Viewing Globe . . . insets, divided panels, crowd scenes on postage stamps . . .

I'm sure everyone who had a hand in drawing any of this grew to hate me.

And yet, I found a tiny bit of room here and there to start developing a story of my own.

Y'know that running gag that's been going these past three issues? The one about the poor, helpless restaurant supplier who keeps being wiped out by monsters? Well, he has a name — Jim — and next issue, he was going to have his first speaking part (unless you count that inarticulate cry of terror back on page 8). That would have marked his promotion from running gag to full-fledged subplot.

The next issue was to open with the kids talking among themselves at the Youth Center, continuing what Zordon and Alpha had started — recounting the history of the Power Rangers. Jim, one of Ernie's regular suppliers, comes by to make a delivery, and the kids overhear a conversation between the two. Jim is understandably very upset with the way things have gone recently, and says so in no uncertain terms.

Not so understandably, he blames the Power Rangers for attracting all the monsters.

Naturally, this point of view doesn't get much support from Ernie. But the kids wonder if perhaps there isn't some truth in what he says. After all — if Zordon had chosen teens in some other community as his Power Rangers, Angel Grove would have been spared the brunt of Lord Zedd's wrath.

Of course, equally innocent citizens of the other community would have been in that position. And Angel Grove would have been at least indirectly threatened anyway, because wherever his actual attack is made, Zedd's goal is to conquer all of Earth.

But the light of reason offers little warmth when it shines on a case like Jim's.

A few days later, in the park, the kids are again reminiscing about the group's history, their uncertain feelings at least partly forgotten. They are reminded when Bulk and Skull come by and ask them to sign a petition demanding that the Power Rangers leave Angel Grove.

It seems Jim's frequently-expressed opinion has gained converts — two, at least — who, with their usual fuzzy-brained reasoning, figure this petition drive will put them in a position to find out who the Power Rangers really are.

The popularity of the petition can be seen in the responses of passers-by, which range from shaken fists to inarticulate growls. The scene ends with Bulk being kicked in the shin by an indignant 3-year-old.

The only ones who take it seriously are the kids themselves. They know very well Jim's troubles aren't their fault — but they can't help feeling bad about it anyway, just because that's the kind of guys they are.

They share their misgivings with Zordon, who (in one last set of flashbacks, bringing the back-story completely up-to-date) reminds them of all the good they've done. They feel a little better about themselves as they leave. But not completely good, and not for long, because Zedd and Rita have now noticed their self-doubt and are starting to nurture it by magical means.

It is at this point — right at the end of #5, for a nice cliffhanger — that the former running gag is promoted once again, to become the main plot of the final issue.

Bulk and Skull step up their petition drive. They have somehow managed to find a couple of children whose family has suffered financially from property damage caused by Power Ranger battles. But even with thrift-store rags making the children look extra-pitiful, all they receive for their efforts is a series of amusing and sometimes messy insults.

Zedd and Rita send down a monster called Whirly Willy, who has gigantic fans where his head and hands should be, capable of whipping up hurricane winds. The Power Rangers, under intense psychic attack, can fight only half-heartedly. Billy, in fact, can't help comparing this foe with Don Quixote's windmill.

They retreat to the Command Center. Zordon gives them a stepped-up pep talk, using the Viewing Globe to show what Earth would have been like already, if the Power Rangers hadn't protected it. Horrifying scenes of worldwide destruction and unspeakable cruelty help strengthen the Rangers' will to fight — but Rita and Zedd are still able to prevent their summoning their full resolve.

As they teleport back into battle, Alpha expresses his usual frantic dismay. But Zordon says he's certain they'll find the strength they need despite every effort to prevent it.

At the downtown battle site, the usual evacuation procedures have been followed, leaving only one small party of stragglers: Bulk and Skull (the only ones stupid enough to stay because they thought it would somehow further their goals), and the innocent children in their care.

The Rangers' self-doubt is forgotten — at least for the duration of this battle — as they suddenly become aware that lives depend on their actions. To quote a phrase I like to use in my plot submissions, they then proceed to pound the monster into a smoking ruin. Rita and Zedd, however, see this as only a minor setback, because there is still plenty of self-doubt for them to work with.

The defeated Whirly Willy falls straight toward Bulk, Skull and the children, threatening to crush them to death. Summoning the very last of their strength, the Power Rangers manage to deflect the monstrous carcass so instead of crushing people, it merely crushes a single small building.

Jim's building.

And there's Jim — with his face contorted almost beyond recognition! Shouting and waving his arms! Running toward them!

The Rangers' bad feelings return stronger than ever, as they brace themselves for attack from a foe they can not defeat — a foe against whom they can not so much as raise their hands, even in self-defense.

To their amazement, however, Jim runs past them. Instead of venting his frustration futilely against the Power Rangers, he embraces the children.

His children.

Jim shrugs off the ruined building, saying he now realizes what's important. Bulk and Skull slink away as inconspicuously as they can. Zedd and Rita blame each other for the debacle.

And the Power Rangers overcome all self-doubt. The end.

Anyway — that's the story I was going to write.

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