Earlier this month BOOM! Studios and Hasbro announced a new Kickstarter project for the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return comic book. The mini-series with a creative team of Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson, and Nico Leon was fully funded in the first 45 minutes of going live. In the latest update to the series BOOM! Studios and Hasbro dropped a major announcement of a new Mighty Morphin Green Ranger.
For those who may not be aware Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return is spinning out of one of the stories in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special anthology special. In their story Johnson and Hotson, along with Francesco Mortarino, showed us a timeline of how things would be different if Jason, Kimberly, Trini, and Zack did not leave the Power Rangers as they did in the original show. This changed many events, including Tommy Oliver and Kimberly Hart getting married. Though the last page of the story teased a much darker fate for the members of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, at some point in the future Kimberly changed her name to Emma Phillips.
This makes the reveal of the new Green Ranger that’ll be introduced in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return an even bigger deal. As you can see in the concept art and cover by Dan Mora below the new Green Ranger will be none other than the daughter of Kimberly and Tommy named Olivia Hart.
The reveal of Kimberly and Tommy’s daughter, Olivia, being the new Green Ranger is a massive deal. But what makes it an even bigger deal is what Olivia Hart’s presence in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return can mean for the continuity of this new universe. Based on the name alone Olivia name is inspired by the last name of both her parents. Given that she is the Green Ranger and we have not seen any concept art for a future Tommy this could mean her father is no longer around.
In the 30th anniversary short story we see that at some point Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa destroyed the Command Center. With the destruction of the Command Center came the teased downfall of both Zordon and Alpha Five in the process.
With the glimpse of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers appeared set to go to war against Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa. Given that with the announcement we only got concept art for the future versions of Billy, Jason, Kimberly, and Zack it could be theorized that both Tommy and Trini fell during the final battle. This dark fate could play into the fact that the future Jason has taken on the name of Renegade Red Ranger while Kimberly appears to have changed her name.
Trini also falling in battle could mean we will see her daughter, Minh Kwan, become the Yellow Ranger just like Olivia becomes the Green Ranger to honor their parents. This is all still a theory but given that we are seeing the Mighty Morphin era continuing to be honored after the 30th anniversary its not out of the realm of possibility. Minh was received well in her debut in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always so seeing her in the comics would be a cool moment.
There are still a lot we don’t know about Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return. What’s been revealed so far has been very exciting thus far. Especially with looking at what the covers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 appear to hint at.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 will be released in comic book shops and digital storefronts on February 7, 2024. The Kickstarter for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return will be ending on December 12th. If you would like to still contribute and get one or more of the many funding rewards you can click here.
SOURCE: Amy Jo Johnson Twitter/X; BOOM! Studios
