Warning: contains spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #107!Fans celebrated when Trini Kwan became Power Rangers‘ newest Red Ranger, but now the young hero is courting darkness with brutal new tactics. Rita Repulsa recently underwent a transformation into the far more powerful Mistress Vile, posing a huge threat to the Rangers. In reponse – lacking Zordon’s guidance, the Blue Emissary’s support, and Jason Scott’s experience – Trini crosses a line no-one expected.
In Melissa Flores, Simona Di Gianfelice, and Raul Angulo’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #107, the remaining Omega Rangers members – Trini, Zack, and Yale – learn that they are the frontline defense against Rita’s plan for complete multiversal domination. They also learn they’ll need to “hold the line” with no support other than the three new Power Ranger recruits. Soon afterward they are attacked by Alpha-1 and his minions. Fortunately, they are able to withstand the attack and capture Alpha-1. They begin interrogating him, in hopes of learning more about Rita’s plan. However, when he refuses to divulge any useful information, Trini does the unthinkable. The new Red Ranger orders Xi to torture Alpha-1 until he surrenders to her demands. It’s a shocking moment in Power Rangers‘ history, as torture goes against everything the Powers Rangers have stood for and fought to defend.
Trini Is Torturing the Power Rangers’ Enemies
Zordon’s actions identified a personal philosophy that focused on being and doing good, helping the weak and vulnerable, and opposing evil and tyranny wherever it arose in the universe. Before his consciousness was stripped from his body, he personally dedicated himself to accomplishing these tasks. Afterward, he founded the Power Rangers to help him accomplish what he himself was not able to physically do himself. He also demanded that his rangers embody the same values that he did. Accordingly, no matter how dire the circumstance, Zordon would never resort to torture, and would never allow his Rangers, especially a Ranger leader, to do so either. Even Trini acknowledges this aspect of Zordon’s personality. However, as the team’s leader, the decision is ultimately hers.
Trini Betrays Her Yellow Ranger Past
If it wasn’t enough that the new Red Ranger’s decision goes against her training as a Power Ranger, it also betrays her own moral compass. Trini came into the Power Rangers as its most compassionate and kind-hearted member. In this way, she most mirrored her mentor Zordon. In those early days as the Yellow Ranger, while Trini could handle herself in a fight, she always saw it as a last resort after all other alternate resolutions had been exhausted. She seemed much more comfortable working in the lab with Billy Cranston tinkering with a new device. However, in dire circumstances and with the burden of leadership, Trini has lost seemingly lost sight of her essential self.
While much has changed since those early days, it hasn’t changed so much that the Power Rangers can, or should, start casting off their values to “win the day” – a decision which is often the first step on the road to oblivion, especially if it could happen to someone as good-natured as Trini. Zordon had complete confidence in assigning her as leader of the Omega Rangers, knowing full well that their job on the edge of the universe would require them to act independently more often than not. Hopefully, the new Red Ranger will reconsider her choices and justify that faith, but if not, it’s likely a schism with Zordon is on the horizon as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continues.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #107 is now available from BOOM! Studios.
