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Introduction

August 31, 1999

I was the main writer on Hamilton Comics' Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series, and one of the reasons I occupied that position was the fact that I knew the series continuity from having watched the TV show so much. (And the reason I watched the TV show so much was, aside from having to so I could write the comic book, I liked it. So shoot me.)

So — when it came time to write a text page for the trade paperback compilation of the first six issues, one topic seemed to present itself.

— DDM

Continuity Cops:

Where Do These Stories Fit In?

by Don Markstein

If there's a dominant theme to the letter column in Hamilton Comics' Power Rangers comic books, it's that we're getting it wrong.

Lord Zedd doesn't act that way — Rita used to act that way. Tommy doesn't feel that way anymore — that's the way he used to feel back when he was the Green Ranger. Finster doesn't work for Zedd — he remains loyal to Rita.

Hey, I know Zedd doesn't act that way — but when I wrote "The Menace of Dracula" and "Switcheroo", I'd never heard of Zedd. I wrote them with Rita. In the latter, I had her rolling on the floor with laughter at one point. Artist John Heebink, whose work on that story was done after we'd received word that Zedd was now the villain and (more important) had a good look at him, prudently depicted the Overlord of Darkness merely shaking his fist.

We usually hear the broad outlines of what's coming up, but we see how it all works together at the same time you do — and by then, the comic book is well into production.

Thus, we have the White Ranger showing the same limitations and anxieties as the Green. Thus, Bulk and Skull haven't yet become obsessed with finding out who the Power Rangers really are. Thus, Aisha translates Billy's big words, just like Trini used to do.

Just so you'll have a sporting chance at fitting these stories into the series chronology, here's a summary of the main events thus far in the Power Rangers Saga.

The series opened with the escape of Rita Repulssa from the space dumpster where she and her entourage (Squatt, Baboo, Goldar and Finster) had been imprisoned for 10,000 years. She embarked immediately on a program of conquering Earth. Zordon, ever alert to this eventuality, instructed Alpha to recruit a team of teenagers with attitudes, to oppose Rita's plans as the Power Rangers — Jason (Red Ranger), Kimberly (Pink), Trini (Yellow), Zack (Black) and Billy (Blue). In the months that followed, Rita threw monster after monster at the Power Rangers, but never succeeded in her evil designs.

Rita had the means to create a Power Ranger of her own, and eventually did so — her Green Ranger was secretly the Power Rangers' friend, Tommy, converted to evil by a magic spell. But the Power Rangers broke Rita's spell, and the Green Ranger became one of them.

Rita had, however, retained a means of returning Green Ranger's power to herself. It took her a while to implement it, but when she did, the only way to prevent her getting the power back was for Tommy to give it to Jason. Tommy then left the Power Rangers.

The separation was not permanent. In their darkest hour, when it looked like Rita was about to succeed at last in destroying the Power Rangers, Zordon, using his own energy, managed to re-power Tommy. Tommy returned to the Power Rangers, but it was understood that his re-powering would eventually fade.

It was onto this scene that Lord Zedd entered. Displeased with Rita's performance on the Earth conquering project, Zedd put her back in the space dumpster and sent her off. Goldar, Squatt and Baboo switched loyalty like like a crooked politician — but Finster merely performed his greatly reduced functions for Zedd without calling attention to himself, and bided his time.

It was right about this time that the Power Rangers' schoolmates, Bulk and Skull, decided the most important thing they had to do in this world was find out who the Power Rangers really are.

Zedd continued in Rita's work, more menacingly than she, although less cheerfully — but he achieved about the same rate of success. One monster after another of his making was met and defeated by the Power Rangers.

Meanwhile, Tommy's Green Ranger power faded to zero. The last little bit of it was expended in defeating Zedd's answer to the Power Rangers themselves, the Dark Rangers. After that, Tommy went off by himself, to think about his experiences and plan his future.

While he was gone, Zordon and Alpha secretly worked on creating a new Ranger — the White Ranger, who, powered by the forces of Good, would be less vulnerable to the old Green Ranger's weaknesses. Naturally, Tommy was chosen to be the White Ranger, and thus assumed leadership of the Power Rangers.

Despite the efforts of Bulk and Skull, the first ordinary humans to discover the identities of the Power Rangers were three new kids at school — Rocky, Aisha and Adam — who gained this knowledge by accident when they became involved in a Power Rangers adventure. Zordon explained to them the importance of maintaining their friends' secret identities, and the three agreed not to reveal what they knew. A short time after that, Jason, Trini and Zack were chosen as delegates to a youth peace conference in Geneva, and had to leave the Power Rangers. Rocky, Aisha and Adam were chosen to become the new Red, Yellow and Black Rangers, respectively.

And there, I thought as the deadline for this article approached, matters stand.

Boy, was I wrong!

"What's this about Rita marrying Zedd?" the panicky voice of editor Gary Leach said into my phone.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Gary," said I.

We'd both just seen the event in question on TV — right when many of you readers were watching it, I'll bet, and with just as much advance notice as you had!

For some reason (my guess is, he was secretly sweet on her all along), Zedd didn't imprison Rita as hard as she'd been imprisoned before the series started. She was out the minute his back was turned, and Finster was ready for her. Together, they enchanted Zedd in his sleep and next thing you know, bang, it's rose petals and rice.

I'm a little uneasy about this. I mean, I wish the vile couple well, and I'm sure the Power Rangers can thwart their wicked schemes just like always, and I certainly do look forward to writing their dialog . . .