Summary
Warning: Spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #4!Tommy OliverandJason David Frankare both synonymous with thePower Rangersfranchise, and both receive the ultimate tribute in the comics. On behalf of the creative team of the newReturnminiseries, Amy Jo Johnson promised thatthe originalPower Rangersactors' influence on the comicwould also offer"closure"in paying homage to those the community has lost, like Frank.
Closure arrives in the unexpected resurrection of Tommy Oliver from the deadinMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return#4 by Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson, Nico Leon, Dono Sanchez-Almara, and Ed Dukeshire. In this universe, Tommy Oliver sacrificed his life to save the world before the events of the series, which takes place in analternate version of the canon.
Readers were initially willing to accept Tommy’s sacrifice as theperfect final goodbyehe deserves, but this return makes for an even better tribute to both the character and the actor who portrayed him.
Tommy Oliver is Brought Back from the Dead
The Original Green Ranger Returns in His Younger Body
Decades ago, during the Power Rangers' final stand against Rita Repulsa, the Empress of Evilnarrowly escaped deathby transferring her soul intothe Morphin Grid. She did this using a bomb that the Rangers had set up topurify evil, but which instead destroyed the Moon Base.While Tommy was presumed dead in Bandora Palace’s destruction, he, too, was sucked into the Morphin Grid. Fast-forward to more than 20 years later, when Rita’s secret daughter, Selena Repulsa, tries to bring her mother back among the living out of a device thatthe returning villain Finsterhas created.
In an effort to stop Selena, Olivia - daughter of Tommy and Kimberly, andnew Green Ranger- shoves Selena out of the way and, without realizing it, takes her spot in the machine. As Selena tries to summon her mother,Olivia taking her place is enough to summon her father instead. Since Tommy has been gone from the living world for several years, he returns in the same youthful body he had when he sacrificed himself, having not aged a day in the Morphin Grid.
The Ultimate Power Rangers Tribute
Both Tommy Oliver and Jason David Frank, respectively, hold immense significance to thePower Rangersfranchise. From the very beginning of his run as the Green Ranger, back when he opposed the Power Rangers before joining them, Tommy Oliver instantly became a fan-favorite. The character’s fanbase would continue to grow with each new appearance across the decades. Tommy cemented himself as, for many, the most iconic Power Ranger. Jason David Frank cemented his legacy as a staple of thePower Rangersfranchise, considering how often he’d agree to return to the community, even as a mentor.
JDF’s death was a devastating hit to thePower Rangerscommunity, but this is the perfect way to pay homage to the character and the actor while offering closure for both.Tommy not only returns, but in the form that audiences were first introduced to him in his first episode. He’s even back in action for a bit as the Green Ranger. The pillar of thePower Rangersuniverse gets a happy ending in the form that he was introduced to the world.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return#4is on sale now from BOOM! Studios.
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.
