Every kid who grew up in the 90s probably watched two iconic series growing up: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Now, in a crossover decades in the making, the two iconic childhood franchises are about to team up in what could be the most epic collaboration of all time.
What could have been once deemed fan fiction is finally becoming canon. An unlikely alliance between comic book publishers Boom! Studios, indie publisher IDW, toy creator Hasbro, and children's network Nickelodeon is bringing this project to life. The first comic book of this project, aptly named Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, hits comic book stores this Dec. 4. It is written by Ryan Parrott, who wrote the previous Power Rangers comic Power Rangers: Necessary Evil, and illustrated by Simone di Meo, who also worked on a previous but separate Power Rangers comic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
The Plotline
The story begins with the Power Rangers arriving in New York City to find that Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger, has allied himself with the Foot Clan, and is battling the Heroes in a Half Shell. The Rangers find themselves brawling against the turtles but eventually figure out that their opponent isn't each other. They need to figure out how to cooperate with one another and pool their resources and talents to defeat the evil that is looming over them (and save the world, as usual).
Fans may be wondering when this crossover event happens in the Power Rangers timeline. In an interview with Newsarama, Ryan Parrott says that it takes somewhere in the middle of season one. As such, fans can expect to see the original five Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
"I don't want them to come in and all of a sudden, they pick this up because they liked it as a kid, and goes who are these people and what's going on? It's designed to be accessible to the casual fan." Parrot states in this interview with Newsarama. For those following the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books, recent characters such as the female Ninja Turtle Jennika won't be around to join in on the action.
When Is This in The Timeline?
In a separate interview with SYFY, Parrott teases that the limited time crossover series will feature a lot of throwbacks to the original Power Ranger TV series as well as the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
"The story isn't set in any particular part in the comics continuity but is more or less set during the first seasons of both of the iconic '90s television series. Although I love both the comics, I wanted even the passing fans to be able to come aboard without any prior knowledge. The series will have a lot of familiar locations, feature a slew of fan-favorite characters from both series, and plenty of giant monsters."
Cover Artists
The first issue will feature Dan Mora as the artist for the cover. There are two other variants available as well, with a Turtle Ranger Helmet variant by Goni Montes and a Cover Alpha Comics variant that pays homage to Infinity Gauntlet by Matt Frank.
