The BOOM! StudiosPower Rangerscomic franchise features a secret evil Green Ranger that television fans may not know about. Tommy Oliver’s introduction into the originalMighty Morphinseries as Rita Repulsa’s mind-controlled minion was the first time thatthe evil Ranger tropewas incorporated into the franchise. Since then, there have been several examples of the trope on TV - and in the comics.
In particular,Mighty Morphin Power Rangers#20 by Kyle Higgins and Daniele Di Nicuolo features the debut ofan evil Green Ranger that’s exclusive to the comics and is a member of the Psycho Rangers. Long-time viewers will recall that the Psycho Rangers were the antagonists ofPower Rangers in Space,the show’s sixth season. The team mirrored the colors of the Space Rangers, but neither team featured a Green Ranger.
The comics, though, expand on their lore by showcasing Psycho Green’s origins, revealing how he’s the most powerful of the Psychos.
Psycho Green Debuts by Killing the Original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers#20 by Kyle Higgins, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Walter Baiamonte, and Ed Dukeshire
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers#20 takes place in 1969, dedicated entirely to the origin story and fate ofZordon’s original Rangers before the ’90s show. On the day of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the Psycho Green Ranger resurfaced.Psycho Green was the right-hand man to Dark Specter and Rita Repulsa- until she was imprisoned in her moon prison thousands of years ago, hinting at the type of strength, power, and skill he wields if he’s considered qualified to serve an overlord so closely.
After her imprisonment, Psycho Green worked effortlessly to free Rita, until Zordon and Alpha 5 shot him out of orbit with their pulse defense cannons almost 100 years ago. Rather than die, Psycho Green was merely in slumber until the astronauts landing on the moon wake him up. To stop him from freeing Rita, Zordon recruits five “adults with attitude” to crown them as Power Rangers on short notice. However,the Power Rangers are no match for Psycho Green,who singlehandedly brutalizes the entire team in one fell swoop.
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One by one, Psycho Green murders each member of the Power Rangers within seconds of each other. The closest to retaliation they get isthe Blue Rangerstabbing him through his back with a Power Lance, butPsycho Green is unfazed before crushing the Black Ranger with a boulder and cutting off the Pink Ranger’s air supply. Even a Power Blaster from the surviving members only inspires Psycho Green to transform into his monster form. The Blue Ranger must sacrifice himself by allowing the monster to eat him, firing one of Zordon’s cannons inside him to finally defeat Psycho Green.
Psycho Green Returns to Power Rangers Lore After His Original Debut
Saban’s Power Rangers: The Psycho Pathby Paul Allor, Giuseppe Cafaro, Marcelo Costa, and Ed Dukeshire
The graphic novelPower Rangers: The Psycho Path, however, reveals that the originalBlue Ranger’s sacrifice didn’t destroy Psycho Green.It merely buried him underneath the moon’s rubble for decades, which also seemed to protect him fromthe evil conquering Z-Wave. Once awake, he learns that his master, Dark Specter, had sired an apprentice in Astronema, who created her own team of Psycho Rangers as seen in the show. The graphic novel expands on the lore by revealing that Astronema based her creations on real people whom she killed in the past.
Astronema recovers from Dark Specter’s mind control, and as seen in the show’s seventh season, she redeems herself as Karone, the Lost Galaxy Pink Ranger. She returns to her and brother Andros' native planet KO-35, where Psycho Green joins forces with the Psycho Rangers - he recovers the data cards the Psychos were imprisoned in, reprogramming them to his liking - and captures Karone, attempting to reprogram her brain back into becoming Astronema. In the end,the other Psychos turn over a new leaf, keeping Psycho Green locked awayin their mothership.
Psycho Green’s Origin Story Informs How His Presence Re-Shapes Power Rangers Lore
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Year Two Deluxe Edition Bonus Story
Following his defeat, the Psycho Green Ranger receives an actual origin story exclusive to theMighty Morphin Power Rangers: Year Two Deluxe Edition(later reprinted inThe Psycho Path), “Psychotic” by Trey Moore, French Carlomagno, and Dukeshire. This story reveals thatPsycho Green - originally named Trek - was first a member of the Supersonic Rangers on the planet Xybria.
By enriching the lore of the Psycho Rangers,Power Rangersenriches the history of villainy in its universe.
The planet’s inhabitants - includingTime Force’sTrip, another Green Ranger - are telepathic, butTrek’s mind is unreadable, disturbing his teammates, and benching him from missions as a result. Trek’s bitterness makes it easy for Dark Specter to manipulate him into joining evil’s ranks, becoming his Psycho Ranger and killing the Supersonics.
What makes Psycho Green’s introduction and origin story so compelling is how it adds so heavily to the ever-expanding lore of the Power Rangers franchise. Knowing that he was a Green Ranger who served directly under Rita Repulsa adds context to why Rita would want a Green Ranger serving her whenMighty Morphincomes around. It also adds context tothe ever-elusive Green Ranger curse, showing how it pre-dates even Tommy Oliver. By enriching the lore of the Psycho Rangers,Power Rangersenriches the history of villainy in its universe.
Power Rangers
Power Rangersis a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV seriesMighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the JapaneseSuper Sentaiseries,Power Rangersbecame a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage fromSuper Sentaiwith new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children’s franchises in the world.
