Power Rangers Interview with BOOM! Studios at San Diego Comic Con 2019

San Diego Comic Con, the week that all things comic books gets buzzing!

For BOOM! Studios, that meant an epic slate of Power Rangers content with the recently revealed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover, and the new team of Omega Rangers.

Power Rangers NOW had the chance to catch up with Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace, the writers behind the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics.

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With the 2017 Power Rangers Movie no longer continuing, would you have any interest in continuing that story in a comic book?

Ryan: I had a lot of fun writing the Power Rangers: Aftershock comic book a couple years ago. And there’s a lot of story left to tell there, like the Green Ranger. So I wouldn’t be opposed to it down the line, but I am really busy right now with three other books.

What tease can you give fans for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Ryan: From a story perspective, it’s too far out to give anything away. But Shredder will team up with the Green Ranger, which is a big part of the story. It will allow readers to see all of the things I wanted to see between these two teams as a kid.

How did the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic come to be?

Ryan: I called [BOOM! Studios Editor] Dafna Pleban and said “I want to talk to you about another Power Ranhgers book”. She said it wouldn’t be possible as we’re working on a new crossover between the Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles. And I couldn’t believe it. That’s exactly why I was calling. So I begged her to let me do it. I just felt like there was so much fun you could have with these characters, almost like a love letter to the 90’s. This is the first time the Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers would get together.

Is the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series related to ‘Shell Shocked’, the team-up episode from Power Rangers In Space?

Ryan: No, that episode is way in the future.

Will Venus or Jennika appear in the series?

Ryan: Neither are in it. They both weren’t in the 90’s series, and it felt like there were already a ton of characters. It felt like adding two more wasn’t necessary. Plus, you’d have to explain a lot more with those characters for the readers who aren’t as familiar with them.

Who’s your favorite Ninja Turtle?

Ryan: Raphael growing up. But from a writing perspective, Michelangelo and Donatello are the most fun to write.

Will there be pizza?

Ryan: There will be specific conversations about pizza.

Can you talk about how Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers are revealing things between one other?

Ryan: I know some people like to wait for the collective issues to read these stories, but I think Power Rangers: Necessary Evil is best experienced going back and forth between Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers. In the order they come out.

The way the reveals go back and forth changes the way you experience it.

Is it safe to assume the introductions of the White Ranger and Lord Zedd follows the same story as the TV show?

Sina: I would say it honors the TV show, but it’s not exact. The comics are about finding a way to honor what’s already there, while giving the reader something to add to the mythology.

Ryan: We are very aware of the timeline of the show. Any fans who love those seasons won’t be disappointed. They’re important to the structure of Power Rangers, but it doesn’t mean we can’t add depth to them.

Can you talk about how different Tommy is in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is compared to Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers?

Ryan: I love how in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, you can see Tommy up front as the leader of the team. But in Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers, you see Tommy losing his powers and slipping away from the team. It’s such a nice parallel. I love finding those things where you can see characters at the top and the bottom.

Is there any specific reason Katherine hasn’t appeared yet?

Ryan: We don’t want to jam everybody just yet. Plus, writing Kimberly is so much fun.

Can you talk about Dayne?

Ryan: I love Dayne because it takes something from the existing mythology and uses it in a new way. I don’t want just a random cameo. Dayne takes something people know and connects it to the larger seasons people love, and finds a way to build something new while being free from continuity. That’s where his strength is.

Doggie Cruger represents a race. Getting to see other people from that race was great. Plus, Dayne shows how different Lord Zedd is from Rita Repulsa. He has his own “Scorpina’s”, or people he can call on.

I want to do more characters like Dayne. He will be a big part of the story.

Starting in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #41, there are a ton of new characters: Raegyn, Kiya, Xi, Emissary XI and Alred. Talk about creating all of these new additions.

Ryan: Coming out of Shattered Grid, I knew there had to be consequences. There had to be a threat that spawns from it, and it had to be something new. So to create problems, there had to be a new world.

Xi is a mirror of Alpha 5. Emissary XI is a mirror of Zordon. But they’re inverted. Xi is very different from Alpha 5. It’s fun using the original show, but building a new version that also feels different. You’ll see a lot more of these characters.

Sina: I wasn’t involved in creating these, but in the future, there will be some of mine. Like Lady Grumptruck who will appear in Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers #24. But I do love looking at characters that were forgotten, not just new ones.

Can you talk about creating the Omega Rangers?

Ryan: The Omega Rangers open up a whole new world of possibilities to play with. But, even with the Omega Rangers, you’ll see characters you recognize.

Plus, it’s great we get to keep playing with Jason, Zack, and Trini. Losing them was weird. It changed how we had to write the entire team, including Kimberly and those left behind. Plus, the new three are totally different. Rocky is nothing like Jason. The writing process entirely changes. But that’s the fun of it.

Will the Omega Rangers get their own comic series?

Ryan: Let’s see how Power Rangers: Necessary Evil goes first.

Do you enjoy creating new monsters as opposed to using the wide array of monsters Power Rangers already has?

Sina: Most of those monsters just get vanquished after one episode. Lord Zedd is very much a “it’s broke, I want to fix it”, kind of guy. He wouldn’t want to keep turning to something that’s failed him so often. So it requires new monsters. There’s a scene coming up between Lord Zedd and Finster that will really demonstrate this point.

Plus, it’s more fun to create new monsters. It allows you to flex your muscles.

Ryan: Lord Zedd likes to take things close to the Rangers and twist them. So we want our monsters to be resonant with things going on the Rangers’ personal lives. We have one coming up called Warbunny who’s my favorite.

Being new to the Power Rangers franchise, is there any Ranger you’ve had the most fun writing so far?

Sina: Zack and Trini. There’s a great scene with them coming up. They’re both coping with becoming Rangers in such different ways, but they’re also friends. It’s fun watching them be there for one another. I love adding to the foundation of these characters.

But I do love the chemistry between Billy and Tommy too. Those two go on to have a long relationship in the TV show, so it’s cool to lay some foundation between them.

Are there any plans for any LGBT inclusion in the Power Rangers comics coming up?

Sina: The nice thing about BOOM! Studios and Hasbro is that no idea is immediately shut down. Everything is an open door. But right now, no immediate plans. There’s so much story going on currently with the White Ranger, Lord Zedd, and the Omega Rangers. But down the line? Very possible.